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, knee to the nuts violence, verbal abuse, some UST, and strong language.

AN - This story is a collab between Trulywicked and myself, half this story is hers; it’s posted here because previously we didn’t have a joined account on this site We do now however and starting after this fic all of our collabs will be posted under that account which you can find here: (http://anime.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=1296892600). Trulywicked is amazing and make sure to check out her work if you haven’t.

So the second chapter at long last, please drop a line and tell us what you thought about it.

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


Second Chapter.


Neji felt as if his nerves was on the outside of his skin...It had been several days since he'd blown up at Gaara and nothing had changed. The vampire still watched his every move. This wasn't working but Neji had no idea what to say to get through to the redhead. He crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch the sea of people, almost hoping that something would happen right in front of Gaara to make him see sense.


Kakashi walked in to the club letting his visible eye roam over the dancing and grinding bodies with glee, if his meeting went smoothly and fast he might even join them. He caught a glimpse of red and hurried towards it. "Hey Gaara-kun!" He bounded up to the redhead and smiled pleasantly when he got right up in his face. "It's been a while, you never call unless there's something you need."


Gaara opened his mouth to snarl at the silver-haired man to move but it was too late. A sudden screech followed by a slap and the sounds of a royally pissed woman in heels clipping out the club gave testament to the fact that another mate had been 'attacked'. Green eyes heated and scorched Kakashi as he spoke in a low, dangerously soft tone. "Be very, very, very glad I need your help Hatake. Now kindly sit down."


"Maa Gaara-kun, always so grumpy." Kakashi complained but sat down on a bar stool next to Gaara's table watching as Gaara rushed out on the floor.


Neji was on his feet too, why couldn't he sense the fucker who was doing this? All he felt was this boom that left his brain scrambled. He looked over the floor but he didn't even know what he expected to see.


Gaara finished relaying instructions to a pair of enforcers in the club to follow the human mate and make sure she didn't get too distressed or try to kill herself, demanded the security footage from tonight be sent to his office, scanned the club and caught sight of the silver eyed wizard, also scanning the club. He locked eyes with the Hyuga and went over to him to murmur shortly, "Depending on your innocence you're either the luckiest or most unfortunate son of a bitch on the planet." The redhead stalked back to his table and faced Kakashi.


Neji couldn't help but chuckle as he walked around the room trying to find a magic trace, no matter how weak. Gaara was right about one thing and that was that luck had never been on his side.


Kakashi had watched the exchange with interest, it had been a very long time since he'd seen that gleam in Gaara's eyes. "Well, well Gaara-kun, have you gone and gotten yourself a lover?" The silver haired man grinned behind the collar of his polo shirt.


"Like hell." Gaara's voice was deceptively mild. "Do you have any idea how irritated I am at the moment? One instant of you getting in my line of sight and I've lost yet another opportunity to either apprehend the bastard who's fucking with the human mates or rule out someone as a suspect so I can cease wasting my time following an arrogant, tight-assed wizard around."


"He's free then?" Kakashi said in a husky tone as he raised an eyebrow and looked over at the long haired male. "It's been a while since I've been with someone with hair like that...male or female. Just imagine the way it would caress your skin as that mouth went down on you." Kakashi completely ignored what Gaara had said about irritation. "I think you're right that he would be tight-assed though."


A feral growl rumbled in Gaara's chest, more at the thought of Kakashi going after the wizard than the fact that the book collector was ignoring the fact that he'd fucked up Gaara's surveillance. "I don't know if he's free and I don't fucking care. I called you for a reason Hatake now start paying attention or I'm going to geld you."


Kakashi's eye turned into an upside down u as he smiled at Gaara. "I'm good at multi-tasking Gaara-kun, I can listen to you and plan how to woo silver eyes at the same time." He leaned forward. "Now what do you want from me Gaara-kun."


Gaara had to force down another growl but he managed and settled with the unique stillness of a hunting predator. "Information regarding the Kitap Demir Kum. Has it been seen or rumored to have been seen since it disappeared two centuries ago? Who was rumored to have seen it last? Anything you know or can find out about it."


Kakashi put his fingers together and peered at Gaara. "Funny you should ask, there have been rumors about it resurfacing. It's all very hush hush but according to my sources it's been purchased by an anonymous collector who has gone through pains remaining just anonymous. Why the sudden interest?" Kakashi's gaze turned to follow Neji as he moved back to his spot against the wall as he waited for Gaara to reply.


"You saw the incident that just happened, have you heard about the others?"


Kakashi grew serious. "I've heard, what's been happening to your mates has caused quite a panic...Caution had spread to the were society too. You think someone has meddled the spells in Kitap Demir Kum? That would be extremely dangerous, those spells are unstable to begin with, you of all people should know that."


Gaara shifted a shoulder in remembered pain. "Believe me I recall. But the way the mates have been bespelled, the way they've acted, it sounds like a modified spell from the Kitap Demir Kum. If that's the case then finding the book may locate the wizard who's targeting our mates."


"I'll dig deeper, a book like this one always leave traces. I'll send out the hounds and get back to you as soon as I can." Kakashi nodded towards Gaara. "Now if you excuse me I think I'll go introduce myself to snowy eyes over there, the moon is full and so am I." He gave the vampire a wink. Kakashi wasn't stupid, he could see that Gaara wasn't nearly as uninterested as he proclaimed to be and he was so much fun to wind up.


Gaara lifted his lip in a half snarl but one glance over at the wizard actually calmed him down. Somehow he just couldn't see the long haired man interested in Kakashi's peculiar brand of charm. He shrugged non-nonchalantly. "Do as you like Hatake just be careful. I haven't ruled him out as a suspect yet due to your exceptionally bad timing."


"Aw you're so sweet to care." Kakashi leaned forward and tapped the vampire on the cheek before sauntering over to the dark haired piece of yummy.


"Hello, I'm Kakashi and if you give me a chance I can make you howl." He leered at the young man as he placed his hand on the wall next to Neji's head.


Neji quirked an eyebrow as he regarded the silver haired man, was he serious? That was the worst pick up line he'd ever heard. "Sorry, I'm allergic to dog hair so you better just move on."


"Oh silver, you're breaking my heart here." Kakashi leaned forward and planted one smack on Neji's lips just to see how a certain redhead would react.


A definite snarl came from the vampire's direction but Gaara didn't move, despite the jealous temper that began seething under his skin. He had no cause nor reason to be jealous, he had no claim on the silver eyed wizard, nor was he likely to make a claim so long as the Hyuga was still a suspect. The reminder of that kept him in his seat, ignoring the possessive instinct that told him to rip Kakashi's face off and watching to see what the wizard would do.


What. The. Fuck? Neji's eyes widened as the stranger's lips came down on his own. Neji didn't even think about it, he reared his knee back and slammed it into the other's groin, watching as the wolf crumpled into a heap on the floor in front of him. "Next time you try something like that I'll fry your flea infested ass." He hissed and walked away from the whimpering silverette.


Gaara sent a nasty smirk in the direction of the werewolf and got up to follow the wizard, aware of the many eyes that had turned towards the small commotion.


Neji wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he stalked towards his car. What was it about him that attracted the crazies?


Inside the club Kakashi slowly got to his feet, declining help from a few brave people. It had been worth it though, just hearing Gaara's growl. Kakashi decided to grab a beer before he went home and called the dogs out to sniff out the buyer of Kitap Demir Kum, he figured he had deserved a cold one.


The vampire snagged the copy of the security footage from a bouncer before he exited the building and watched the silver BMW drive off. For once he wouldn't try to keep up with the car and instead slung his leg over his cycle, put on his helmet and leathers, and eased down the street. He weaved in and out of traffic heading back to Lunar Place. Occasionally he noticed the BMW a bit further ahead but his goal wasn't to ride the wizard's ass tonight. As a matter of fact, considering his out of proportion, ridiculous reaction to Kakashi's antics and words it might be better to leave a little space between them.


He pulled into his space at the apartments and headed up to his temporary home. Once inside, since the night was young, he set up at his computer and began working on piecing together the possible spells from the Kitap Demir Kum that could have been modified to interfere with the mate bond as well as the human mates' minds. Basic mind manipulation spells, while not ethical, were fairly common place among wizards and most humans were easy to manipulate but once a vampire/human mate bond was formed the vampire's mind gave a sort of filter to their mate's, blocking others from influencing the human mate. So the spell being used had to temporarily reroute the mate bond similar to mirrors rerouting the path of a laser.


Neji was restless, he twisted on his bed and realized that sleep wasn't going to come to him. After he had gotten home he'd showered and glared at his books and notes. He'd looked through those books so many times he almost knew each of them by heart, Neji knew that he was missing something but it ate him up that he couldn't figure out what it was. Groaning he got out of bed and slipped into a pair of comfortable, well worn jeans and a soft sweater. He gathered his hair into a loose braid and walked into the living room to gather up all his research.


If you can't beat the devil...join him. Neji couldn't get anything substantial done with Gaara watching his every move from a few feet away, if he had to put up with the vampire he might as well get something out of it. Balancing the books, notes and his laptop in his arms Neji stuck his feet in an old pair of sneakers and walked across the little yard and up the stairs to knock on a certain redhead's door.


The door opened and revealed Gaara, once again in his sweatpants only this time he had a black t-shirt on. His eyes went to the binders the silver eyed man carried. "Yes?"


"Here." Neji shoved all the items in Gaara's chest, waiting for him to take them. "I can't do this...I can't have you staring at me counting each breath I take. I'm a suspect, fine I can live with that. There must be a better way to handle this though. That's all the books and all the notes I have on this, feel free to read it." Neji looked at Gaara. "Work with me, that way you'll have first hand access to all my moves and plans. Work with me and maybe we can bring this freak in together."


Any other being would have raised their eyebrows in surprise but since Gaara was rather eyebrowless he just shifted aside in silent invitation to come in the walked to his work station to set the research paraphernalia down. He turned and leaned back against the desk studying the long haired man, debating the pros and cons of accepting his offer. It certainly would make it easier to keep an eye on him in the evenings and he had to admit, even if the Hyuga was the perpetrator it would be helpful to have a wizard's input and the last thing Gaara wanted to do was have to call the only wizard connection he had. "I have to say you've managed to surprise me."


"Wow, and all it took was my complete surrender." Neji said in a deadpan voice. "I love what you've done with the place." He said as he followed Gaara and took in the bare walls and floors. "It's very...you."


A low chuckle rumbled from the redhead. "Not much point in decorating a temporary living space now is there?" He straightened from where he leaned and went to the fridge to grab a bag of blood. "Anything to drink? I have water, orange juice, and cold green tea."


"Tea would be nice, thank you." Neji settled for leaning against the counter since there wasn't anywhere to sit. "So back to the reason I'm here. The one doing this has found some way of cloaking his or hers magical signature, that alone marks this person as very powerful since it's nearly impossible to do. Magic always leaves a trace. The spell hits like a sonic boom, echoing from every surface of the room at once, making it impossible to pinpoint the caster. It's driving me crazy because a spells like these shouldn't exist, not anymore anyway." Neji took the tea from Gaara and sipped it gratefully. "I'm pretty in tune with what happens in our society but I don't know who this is or how it's done."


Gaara had taken the polite action of poring his blood into a wine glass since only other vampires or the mates of vampires who had been mated for at least a decade tended to be unfazed by seeing someone sucking on a blood bag. He took a sip of A+ and, though he certainly was taking the silver eyed man's information with a grain of salt, thought about that tidbit of information and offered one of his own. "Have you heard of the Kitap Demir Kum?"


Neji almost choked on his green tea, coughing a bit he put the tea down on the counter beside him. "Yes I've heard of it, I don't think there's a wizard over the age of ten who hasn't. It's legendary...the holy grail of spell-books. I thought it was lost during the Suna riots several centuries ago though."


The vampire snorted. "That book is many things but 'holy' isn't an adjective I'd use in the same sentence as its title unless shit followed holy. As for being lost, it did disappear but I'd say that these spells being used to screw with the vampiric mate bond are created from some of the spells in the Kitap Demir Kum so it's obviously resurfaced."


"Well that would certainly explain a few things." Neji sunk down until he sat on the floor. "That would explain how the perp can make the spells bounce like that." Neji couldn't lie, he would gladly cut off his own arm for a chance to study the Kitap Demir Kum but he also knew how dangerous it was. "This is bad, I can't counter spells like that." That stung to say but it was the truth. "We need to find this person fast. Look at the damage being done with one spell...if they have the whole book image what they can do."


Gaara scoffed again. "I don't have to imagine. I've seen what that book can do. The upside is that any spell in that book is a tremendous drain on the user, even the best wizards have never been able to use more than four of its spells in a twenty-four hour period. Even a modified spell will need a large amount of mystic energy." The vampire went to his desk and sat in the rolling chair. "And the culprit is being cautious now. He's hunted and he knows it, the number of incidents per night has tapered off because he has to hide now."


"It won't stop him though, he might be cautious now but I have a feeling it's the calm before the storm." Neji leaned his head against his knees. "I've been trying to figure out some sort of counter spell, or at least a protective bubble for a small area but so far it hasn't worked." He sighed in frustration. Part of him wanted to ask Gaara what he meant about seeing firsthand what Kitap Demir Kum could do but he didn't want to pry, after all he barely knew the other.


A non-committal hum came from the vampire. "You'd either need a couple more centuries of experience or the Kitap Iþýk for that and I wouldn't hold out hope for finding the Kitap Iþýk."


"Well since I don't think we have a few more centuries for me to learn and the book is lost we have to figure something else out...a trap maybe." Neji was tired and he was growing irritated. Everything he did felt like banging his head against a wall, he just wasn't getting anywhere.


Gaara had to stifle the small surge of compassion he felt at the exhausted look on the wizard's face and remind himself that the Hyuga was still a suspect. He took another sip from his glass. "What sort of trap do you have in mind Hyuga?"


Neji swallowed the last of his tea and ran a finger over the shadows under his eyes. "You're not going to like it." He said and braced himself. "A trap requires bait, and in this case the best bait...hell the only bait are your mates." He locked his eyes with Gaara's. "We need to find something, someone that this wizard can't resist, a grand prize for him if you will."


The vampire lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. "He's already nailed the mate of the city's master vampire. What grander prize could exist?"


"You do know how wrong the 'nailed' comment sounds don't you?" Neji couldn't help but chuckle a little. "One thing I've learned from my nights skulking around every blood club in the city is that although Itachi is the master vampire his mate isn't regarded as the greatest accomplishment if you will...The one most admired is his brother, who managed to snag the biggest vampire hater in the city." Neji didn't look at Gaara as he spoke, he knew how bad this sounded.


Gaara blinked for a few seconds then, completely unexpectedly, he burst out laughing. "Oh I say good luck there Hyuga. You think I'm an incredible bastard? You try convincing Sasuke to dangle his mate out there for this cretin. He'll break your arms in several places just so he can tie them in a knot."


"I didn't realize your mates are pets. It's Nagato's choice so he would be the one I'd talk to." Neji slumped back against the counter. "It's a shitty plan, I give you that but unfortunately it's all we have unless you have an ace up your sleeve."


"Our mates aren't pets and well you know it pretty boy but we are all savagely protective of our mates. You manage to convince both Nagato and Sasuke to go along with it then fine but that will be the trick. Those two are a united front when it comes to things like this, they'll both have to agree. Plus you'd have to get close enough to talk to them in the first place, how would you manage to do that? They're staying out of the clubs because of the wizard at large."


"Um...I kind of hoped you could help with that." Silver eyes looked up with a pleading expression. "It's a long shot and I'm ready for them to turn me down, hell I expect them to. The kind of devotion they have...I envy it." Neji stifled a yawn, dawn was creeping close and he hadn't slept well in ages.


Gaara found himself admiring the jaw line of the long haired man and jerked his gaze away, silently berating himself for letting the odd attraction he felt for the wizard distract him. "Most people do. The bonds are precious and rare." He went to the kitchen to rinse out his glass. "Go home Hyuga, we can continue this conversation tomorrow night."


Neji got up from the floor and stretched with another yawn. "M'kay, I think that might be best, unless you want a sleeping wizard on your kitchen table." He walked towards the door. "Feel free to look through the books and notes...I'll see you later then." Neji gave the vampire a sleepy smile before he exited the apartment in favor of his own nice, comfy bed.


The vampire settled in at his desk and began flipping through the materials the wizard had left behind. He was feeling restless and likely wouldn't be able to succumb to the day sleep for at least another couple of hours. The neat, almost prim handwriting of the notes made his lips twitch a bit. Neji Hyuga certainly was a tight-ass but he was an intelligent tight-ass. Unfortunately the wizard casting spells on vampire mates was also obviously intelligent. Gaara could only hope that he wasn't making one hell of a mistake agreeing to this partnership with Hyuga.


oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo


Neji followed Gaara into the high class restaurant; he could hardly believe that the vampire had actually managed to arrange this meeting. The two of them were lead to a private alcove where Sasuke and Nagato were already seated at the table. Neji saw Nagato lift Sasuke's hand and press a kiss against his knuckles as if to calm him and again he was filled with something aching to jealousy, he wanted love like that too one day.


A discreet waiter seated them before leaving.


Neji reached out his hand for Nagato to shake but a growl from Sasuke made him pull it back, he could see Gaara's amused smirk at the action and fought the sudden urge to kick the vampire in the shins.


"So I don't know how much Sabaku told you but I'm Neji Hyuga and I'm trying to find the wizard targeting you." Neji felt uncomfortable but that was okay, he hadn't expected this to be an easy meeting.


Sasuke gave the silver eyed man a suspicious look. "So Gaara mentioned. What do you want?"


Okay so straight to the point and no small talk...Neji could do that. He took a deep breath and prayed he would make it out of this room alive. "I want to use your mate as bait to lure out this wizard and nail his ass to the wall."


Had Gaara been a more expressive person he'd have facepalmed at the unfortunate wording but then again there really wasn't much of a tactful way to put the Hyuga's plan. Regardless Sasuke's extremely savage growl came as no surprise to the redhead.


"You can go to hell."


Nagato put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder to keep his mate from doing something stupid. "Easy love, we can at least listen." He turned sharp gray eyes on Neji. "What would this entail? I can be bait but from what I've gathered the mates being affected hurt their mates...That's unacceptable, I won't do anything to hurt Sasuke."


Neji cleared his throat. "Well there would be a chance for that but you would be watched carefully, we wouldn't let anything bad happen."


Sasuke raised a hostile brow, though his growls ceased under Nagato's touch. "And precisely how do you intend to do that? Do you happen to have a shielding spell that will work on the spells the perpetrator is slinging around in your pocket?"


Silver eyes narrowed. "Not yet...I'm working on it though. I was thinking more along the lines that since you'd be prepared you wouldn't be surprised if your mate changed behavior...he'd be watched too, kept from doing harm. I assume you have people you trust that can watch him. I have friends too, a couple of were bears who would be there." Neji turned towards Nagato. "I would do my best to keep you safe, this is a huge thing to ask, I know that but right now I don't have any other idea what to do."


Sasuke slid a glance over at Gaara, who took a sip from his water glass. "And your opinion of this is?"


"Shaky odds that Nagato will be hit."


"And if he is hit?"


Gaara shrugged. He honestly didn't think that there was any way this trap could possibly work. If Neji wasn't the culprit then a shrouding spell strong enough to hide the perpetrator from another strong wizard would definitely hide him from the weres.


The black haired vampire lifted a brow. "I don't think so. It's too risky."


"I can speak for myself." Nagato said with a glare. "I agree with Sasuke though, it's too risky. It's poorly planned out and the risks of something going wrong are too big. As I said, I will never risk hurting Sasuke. Words can do as much damage as physical violence, believe me I know and I won't take the chance." Nagato leaned closer to Sasuke. "I'm sorry, I want this bastard caught too but I honestly don't think this is the way to do it."


Neji's shoulders slumped even though he had expected that answer. "I understand, it was a long shot anyway. Thank you for at least listening to what I had to say."


Sasuke slipped his arm around Nagato's shoulders and nodded shortly to the silver eyed man. "Hn."


Gaara shrugged casually though he had to fight down an instinct to soothe the wizard. What was it about the other man that drew him so damn it? He wasn't certain he liked being so drawn to a wizard and even if the Hyuga wasn't his prime suspect then he still wasn't his normal type. "By the way Sasuke, any luck finding Karin?"


"No. How she can have such a successful practice yet be unreachable is beyond me."


Nagato furrowed red eyebrows. "Who's Karin and why have I never heard of her?" He turned towards Sasuke while waiting for an answer.


Neji fought the urge to chuckle at the sight. Despite everything these two were so incredibly in tune to one and other and they were so...normal. Neji like most wizards had to admit that he was somewhat prejudiced towards vampires, this times spent with them was changing all that though and he was happy for it, at least something good would come out from this great mess.


Sasuke ran his thumb up and down the side of Nagato's jaw. "She was a member of the enforcement training unit I started out with. Didn't last long thank Hecate. She washed out and got into the scientific and medical arena. Gaara wants me to get a hold of her to profile the bastard responsible for the mates going ballistic."


"Okay." Nagato nodded in understanding and leaned into Sasuke's touch. "Have you asked Kisame to help you look for her?"


Taking a sip from his water glass Neji stayed silent, he had nothing to add to this conversation and he felt a bit in the way, he was bred and raised not to let it show though. Appearances and image was everything to the Hyuga clan and it was something Neji had learned early. Even though he had gotten out the clan's breeding still shaped him, it was part of who he was.


Sasuke hummed. "Apparently she's working as a psychologist but she takes only high profile cases so getting a hold of her is hard as hell."


Gaara smirked. "You haven't tried calling her personally have you? She'd probably drop everything just to talk to you ."


The other vampire hissed at him lightly.


"Will I have to remind this woman that you are mine?" Nagato whispered in Sasuke's ear, his lips almost touching the smooth skin.


Sasuke almost purred and leaned closer. "Please do. Last thing I want is to have to deal with her fangirling."


Gaara shook his head. "Keep it G-rated over there." He glanced at the wizard. "I don't suppose you know anyone who could get an appointment with a high profile psychiatrist?"


Neji blinked. "I could, you'd be surprised how many doors the name Hyuga opens." He'd spent most of his adult life distancing himself from his family but he still bore the name and if it could help than Neji wasn't above milking it to the last drop.


Gaara smirked then cast irritated eyes at the almost cooing couple on the other side of the table. He lashed out and kicked Sasuke in the shin. "Pay attention lover boy. Give me the number for Karin's practice and you won't have to deal with her obsessive affection for your hair."


Sasuke growled irritably. "I don't have the damn thing memorized. Call Kisame for it. Your attitude is getting worse you know. When was the last time you got laid?"


Gaara bared his fangs at the other vampire. "Bite me."


"You'll get stuck in my teeth."


"Okay stop it now before I'll be forced to get the ruler and measure your pissing contest, you're both big bad vampires...I'm sure both Mr. Hyuga and myself are shaking in our boots." Nagato said as he stroked his mate's hair. "Is it okay if I have an obsessive affection for your hair?" He asked with muffled laughter.


Neji hid his smile behind his hand.


Gaara smirked at the way Sasuke calmed and almost pouted under Nagato's hand. Oh how the mighty had fallen. Though if he was honest there was longing under his amusement. He'd like to have his own mate whose hands he could purr under.


Sasuke pecked Nagato's lips. "My hair, like the rest of me kæreste, belongs to you. You can do whatever you like with it."


"Mmm, I really like the sound if that." Nagato purred and deepened the kiss.


Neji flushed and looked away, he felt like an intruder at a very private moment.


Nagato broke the kiss and looked over at the blushing wizard. "Oops I think we're embarrassing our dinner party. How about we go home, you can find Karin's number and send it to Gaara?" He placed another soft kiss as the corner of Sasuke's mouth.


Sasuke chuckled. "I always like the way you think. Gaara," he nodded at the other vampire and got to his feet, "Hyuga." A slighter nod was given to the long haired man.


Neji watched them leave with a mixture of amusement and longing. "You have very interesting friends." He said softly to Gaara.


"I wouldn't call Sasuke a friend, more of an irritation I'm required to work with. Nagato's fairly pleasant though." The redhead stroked a finger down the stem of his water glass. "He definitely makes Sasuke more tolerable."


"Liar, you really care...for both of them, it shows in your eyes." Neji looked at Gaara with soft silver eyes. "Those eyes show much more than you think they do."


Gaara snorted. "You're seeing things that don't exist. I consider four people, at most, my friends. Everyone else I deal with regularly is either an acquaintance, an annoyance, or worse, family."


Neji shrugged. "If you say so." He knew what he saw in Gaara's eyes but he saw no reason to push the issue, besides he could sort of agree with him, at least on the family part. Neji loved his cousins but the rest of them he wouldn't piss on if they were on fire. "So should we wait for Sasuke to send you the phone number or will you call this Kisame person?"


"Actually if I know Ducky, he's already prodded Kisame to send me the number so he can play with his mate. Mako will probably be calling anytime."


"Okay that's good then." Neji nodded and took another sip of his water. He felt a little hot, it felt way too intimate to sit in this hidden alcove with the vampire. What made it worse was that part of him wished they were intimate.


"Mmm. So what does an outcast Hyuga do for a living aside from owning an apartment complex?"


"The stock market has been very kind to this outcast, beside I don't only own an apartment complex...There are big money to be made in real estate." Neji grinned. "I'm also a silent partner in a chain of gyms that's run by some friends of mine, I usually stay as far away as I can...imagine getting a were bear as a personal trainer." Neji shuddered. "The money is good though so I can't complain." He leaned forward. "And you, any other ventures besides being moody and broody vampire guy?"


Gaara sipped his water again, wondering absently where the waiter was. "I deal in rare antiques for the most part, though I do it to cut boredom more than for need of money."


"Sounds interesting, I've always liked antiques." Neji nodded. He was a bit surprised though, Gaara didn't seem like an antiques dealing guy but then again he should know better than to just someone by appearances.


A waiter came in as silent as a shadow and asked them if they were ready to order. Neji didn't feel very hungry so he settled for a Greek salad with feta cheese, red onion and black olives.


Gaara ordered a blood meal called a Sweetmeat, the blood of an unregulated diabetic that had an actual sweet taste to it. "It can be. Collectors are an odd group, especially collectors of Sunaen and Kirien antiques which are the areas I specialize in."


Neji found himself distracted and mesmerized by Gaara's hands, the long slender fingers and the way the vampire moved them. Neji wondered how those hands would feel on his skin. He tore his gaze away when he realized what he was doing, he shouldn't think of the vampire like that. Especially since said vampire still thought he was guilty of being the one putting spells on their mates.


"You seem to know a lot about Suna, why is that?" Neji asked between bites.


The redhead took a sip of his dinner. "Suna is where I was born and raised. It would be a sad statement of my memory if I didn't know a great deal of the place I spent the first twenty eight years of my life."


"You grew up in Suna?" Silver eyes widened with interest. Suna was a land covered in myths, its legend had grown with each century but Neji had never met anyone who could actually tell him what it had been like. "Did you live there before the riots?"


Gaara's eyes darkened a bit as he set his glass down. "I did and during them as well. I was still a child when they started." A child who had already seen far too much cruelty for his years and who had already learned to hate before his fifth birthday.


Neji saw the shadows in Gaara's eyes and he fought the urge to reach out and comfort the redhead, he had a feeling it wouldn't be appreciated. "I didn't mean to pry, sometimes my excitement gets the better of me and I speak before I think." He said softly. He was still curious about Suna and even more so about the man in front of him but he wouldn't push when it was clear that the subject was painful to Gaara.


The vampire shook his head, not entirely certain whether he liked that flash of sympathy or not. "It's not prying. People always want to know about Suna in its 'glory days' the same as people are fascinated with Russia before the Romanovs were slaughtered."


"True but it's not every day I meet someone who actually lived through it. It's a great difference between speculation about something and hearing it from someone who was actually there. I have things I don't like to talk about and I'm sure it's the same for you. I came off like a bit of a tool and I apologize for it." Neji looked at Gaara as he spoke.


Gaara lifted a shoulder, shrugging off the apology. "Nothing to apologize for. Suna was hot and dry, summers were hell until the rains came. Until he lost his wife the king was kind and loving but afterwards he became crazed and cruel. Palace life was luxurious but everyone walked around on eggshells and down in the villages and the fields on the river banks it was a hard life. The men worked until their hands bled and prayed that the gods wouldn't destroy their crops. Craftsmen sold their wares in the village square under the eyes of the soldiers who would take half their daily earnings for taxes. . Women and children would wash their laundry in a giant fountain near the palace. And every villager lived in fear for the days their king would use the spells from the Kitap Demir Kum on them."


Neji quieted, not really knowing what to say. Again he had the overwhelming urge to reach out and touch the vampire, to let him know that he wasn't alone. "Thank you for telling me." He said softly, then he added even softer more to himself than his company. "Funny how in some ways not much change through the ages." His voice was laced with bitterness.


Gaara tilted his head in curiosity at the tone in the other man's voice but let it pass as he lifted his glass of blood to his lips again. "Truer words." He left the cliché unfinished as the Jaws theme began playing from his pocket. A satisfied smirk tilted his lips as he fished his cell out and answered. "I was expecting you to call sooner Kisame."


"Well hello to you too sunshine." Kisame said sarcastically. "This might surprise you but my world doesn't revolve around your pasty ass. So Ducky told me to look up a number for you...why the hell would you want to look up Karin voluntarily? That there is one freaky bitch."


Neji looked at Gaara as he spoke into his sleek phone, wondering what kind of person would merit the theme from jaws as a ring tone, he couldn't help but be intrigued by Gaara wanting to know more about him.


Gaara fished out a pad and mini-pencil from his pocket. "I am aware she's not the most enjoyable person to be around Mako but she is a skilled psychologist and profiler and that, you overgrown chunk of sushi, is what I'm after. Do you have the number or not?"


"Yeah, yeah, yeah...Take it easy raccoon boy. Damn you need to relax some...get laid. Here's your number." Kisame grumbled into the phone as he read Gaara the digits.


The redhead jotted the number down in neat writing and grunted in his version of thanks. "Give the cherry blossom my best."


"I will, and you know it wouldn't kill you to come visit sometime. Sakura would like that." Kisame replied in the same gruff tone as before.


Neji had gone from being curious of the conversation to watch Gaara's mouth move as he spoke, the man had beautiful lips.


"Hmm, perhaps I will once this investigation is over. Keep busy shark face." Gaara hung up with that charming farewell and tucked his phone away again. His eyes caught the silver of his dinner company and a small thrill ran up his spine at the slight attraction in them. Berating himself for enjoying that he was just as attractive to the wizard as the long haired man was to him, Gaara tilted his head. "Something wrong?"


Neji jerked his gaze away from the vampire and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment at having been caught staring. "No, no nothing's wrong...just spaced out for a moment there." He said and kept his eyes firmly locked on the almost empty plate in front of him. "Did you get the number?" Neji asked even though he knew that Gaara had written it done, he just needed something to say.


Gaara almost smirked at the flustered man but settled for pushing the number towards him instead. "Mako never disappoints."


"Should I try phoning her right away or should we wait?" Neji asked and looked at the slip of paper instead of Gaara. He was mentally cursing himself, he didn't act like this...ever! If he wanted someone he want after them but Gaara...That was just a stupid idea on so many levels, especially since Neji couldn't imagine being with someone who didn't trust him.


"No time like the present. Besides I want that profile put together post haste."


Neji nodded and fished his phone out of his pocket, dialing the number quickly before placing the phone at his ear.


It rang a couple times before a business-like voice came on the line. "You've reached the office of Karin Fujiwara. May I ask who's calling and how I may help you?"


"Yes hello, my name is Neji Hyuga and I was wondering if Dr. Fujiwara was accepting any new clients at the moment. If she does I would very much like to be considered." Neji spoke in a smooth, soft tone.


A short pause echoed down the line then the voice practically chirped. "Hyuga did you say? Give me just a moment sir and I'll transfer you to Dr. Fujiwara." Some rustling and a soft beep was heard before another voice came on the line, this one a rich and soothing female tone. "This is Dr. Fujiwara."


"Hello Dr Fujiwara, as I told your secretary I'm Neji Hyuga and I've heard that you're the best at what you do...I need the best." Neji told her simply.


On the other end Karin's lips curved up at his description of her as the best. "Then you've called the right person Mr. Hyuga. Would you like to make an appointment for a consultation?"


Neji smiles a slow smile even though there was no way that the person on the other line could see it. "Yes, that would be most satisfactory. I don't mean to sound pushy but the sooner the better, we live in urgent times Dr Fujiwara and every second is valuable."


"Hmm let me check my schedule." Karin flipped through the appointment book on her desk, smirking at the blank page for tomorrow. She had been planning on going to a new club but she'd be crazy to pass up a chance at working 'for' a Hyuga. "I have an opening at eight pm, is that satisfactory Mr. Hyuga?"


"That sounds perfect Dr. Fujiwara, I look forward to seeing you then." Neji practically purred the words out.


It was a good thing Gaara was seated because if he'd been standing the reaction that sensual voice prompted would have been embarrassing. As it was he had to concentrate on thinking deflating thoughts.


Karin's brows rose and, had she not given up on the male of the species years ago, she'd have had to change her pants. Her own voice took on an instinctive husky quality. "I'll be waiting then. Good evening Mr. Hyuga."


"Good evening." Neji ended the call and slipped his phone back in his pocket, he turned to Gaara. "I've got you your meeting. I assume you will be going with me to talk to her about her profile." Neji said, trying not to get excited by the idea of spending more time with the vampire.


Gaara nodded. "Of course. What time?"


"Eight pm." Neji replied. "Should I prepare in some way or am I just allowed along for my name?"


The vampire finished his blood meal. "If you think of anything helpful to her creating an accurate profile, by all means bring it. Otherwise yes, your name is all you need."


Neji gave the vampire a crooked grin with a sharp edge. "Good to be reminded of my place in the world. I think I'm going to do a sweep of the clubs before I head home, I don't expect much but I should at least try. Will you join me?"


Gaara gave the silver eyed man a 'what do you think look' before rising from the table. He left a card on it indicating that it was a business expense and the restaurant could charge it to Itachi. "I'll be right behind you."


Neji chuckled. "Okay then, let's go make the sweeps my little shadow."


Gaara made a soft grunt and followed the Hyuga out of the restaurant.


TBC…


AN – So the second chapter done, what do you think of hornwolf Kakashi? What will happen at Karin’s office, will they get any closer to finding out the identity of the perp? What do all of you think? We would love to know.