Thin Lines and The Shinobi Who Walk Them

A/N: Sorry about the wait but I've been rather busy and haven't had much time to write. I'm in the process of making my room liveable. I still have some painting to finish and then I get to start laying down tile. (I hate carpet) This chapter isn't as long as the others due to me being busy but I hope you enjoy just the same.




Chapter Four


Darkness had descended around them for over an hour before Neji decided he was through for the day. He was thankful when nothing was said about his stamina. Normally he wouldn’t be so tired after the exercise but lack of sleep from the previous night was wearing him down. Searching for a good spot, he motioned for the blonde to follow him.


Several minutes later they came to a small clearing underneath a layout of tree. They’d be able to crash here for the night. There should be close to six hours before dawn arrived again and they’d have to start out. Neji tried not to think about the fact that he’d be sleeping very close to Naruto or that they would be completely alone. After travelling all day and evening in silence, he was expecting his companion to strike up a conversation any time now.


“I’ve been thinking,” Naruto was glad that they were going to take a small break. He wanted a chance to talk and relax. It’d be okay for them to ignore each other while travelling but once they reached the island they had a role to play.


“About?” Pushing a wayward strand of raven hair behind his ear, he questioned the blonde. Shrugging off his pack, he placed it upon the ground. The day had remained warm so the ground was soft but dry. It wasn’t the mattress he was wanting and he had a feeling he might not get much sleep tonight anyways.


Naruto dug into his own belongings to retrieve the thin blanket and debated on the best way to broach the subject. It wasn’t his usual style to skirt around a topic or be bashful. How could he make his request without sounding like a moron? It was an important matter and they were both professionals. “I was thinking that once we get near the village we can’t behave like we are now. I didn’t know about your previous relationship, what I mean is I’ve only been in one and not with a guy. I think we should practice being comfortable around each other before we get there.”


“I see,” oh Neji did and didn’t like it. The jinchuriki had a very valid and sound point. They couldn’t get to the village and on the same day start acting like a couple. It would take time to get comfortable around each other. If they were posing as a couple that were moving to the island to live a life together, that would insinuate that they’d been a couple for a decent amount of time. They couldn’t appear awkward with each other or show hesitation. “What do you suggest? I’ve been in this kind of relationship before so adjusting won’t be too hard for me but I know I’m not the only one on this mission. What would you like to do?”


“We still have a good many days of travelling left.” Naruto placed the blanket down flat, noticing that the other male was still holding onto his pack. “So how about we start tonight? We can keep it simple at first until we are comfortable and go from there.”


“Sounds reasonable, do you mind?” He pointed to the blanket that was already on the grass. Not waiting for an answer he took a seat on the makeshift bedding.


“Go ahead,” he muttered under his breath as Neji took a seat. Not really caring he took the empty spot, keeping only several inches between them. Naruto stretched out his legs and searched through one of the side pockets for something to snack on.


“Here,” Neji handed over a chocolate bar and retrieved an apple for himself. “You have a good idea but I’d like to point out a flaw. We can’t just say okay we’ll act like a couple. I have a feeling your idea of being with someone is different than my own. We need to discuss what actions our relationship will take.”


“You mean how we’ll act towards each other?” He thought about his relationship with Hinata and wasn’t surprised by the sudden rush of disappointment. If he could dictate how he wanted a relationship to go, he knew what he wanted. Naruto knew exactly what was missing in is current one. “How about we both state what we’re willing to do and would like to do? I’m okay with holding hands, hugging, touching, and kissing; that’s what I’d expect.”


“I agree but would that be in public or are those kept strictly in private?” Neji already knew the answer. Naruto didn’t seem the type for public displays of affection. If it came down to just holding hands in public then he could definitely handle it.


He took a bite out of the chocolate, savoring the taste before answering. “Um, I don’t know to be honest. I like to do them but being with Hinata I don’t. She’s still really shy and I don’t want to push things. So I guess it would depend on you.”


“Is that your way of saying you’re going to let me dictate the relationship?” Neji didn’t want to hear about the relationship with Hinata. His stomach pitched and his mouth went dry when the blonde nodded vigorously in agreement as if were no big deal. “You might find me to be different than my cousin. I’m not a shy naïve girl nor does affection embarrass me. You will find yourself way in over your head.”


“Nah!” he ran a hand through his hair and grinned. “I’m sure I can handle anything you do and I trust you.” Naruto boasted despite the nerves bouncing around in his stomach. The idea of touching the Hyuga was very appealing and the mere concept of kissing him again, was down right arousing.


“Do you?” It sounded like a challenge to him and Neji wasn’t about to ignore it. If he was going to be the one to decide how they were to proceed then he’d do what he wanted. They’d soon see just how much the jinchuriki would allow him to get away with. “Shall we begin then?”


The soft touch of a hand on his thigh had warning bells going off. Naruto couldn’t move or protest as his teammate moved from beside him. Unsure of what to expect, he just sat there. The half eaten chocolate bar was placed on the blanket, his appetite for food being replaced by another, more urgent hunger. The need to touch, to see what his new partner was about to do.


“Relax we’re going to see how comfortable you are.” Neji couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to get close to the blonde. Rising onto his knees, he moved forward until he was forced to maneuver around the stretched out legs. He gave no warning as he swiftly straddled Naruto’s thighs and came to sit on the man’s lap.


“Now, show me your hands.” Neji waited patiently for his instructions to be obeyed. Slowly, two large palms were placed between them and held immobile. Keeping a serious demeanor, he brought his own hands up and carefully entwined their fingers. He had to marvel at the size difference between the pair and was baffled. By no right would Neji consider himself to be a small person. Just under six feet he was more than average in height. Over the last three years his physique had turned more towards being slender than built. He was by no means lanky but compared to Uzumaki he was very lean.


Blue eyes took in where they were joined. He couldn’t help but notice that Neji’s hands fit perfectly in his and he didn’t have to worry about dwarfing them. Holding them it was hard to imagine that they could turn very lethal. It was more than pleasant, which he did have to question. Not once while holding hands with Hinata had the act stirred any kind of emotion. A strange surge of possessiveness had his knuckles twitching to tighten the hold.


Seeing how the blonde was comfortable with this timid display of affection Neji decided to take the next step. Removing his right hand from the firm grasp, he placed it on a broad shoulder. There were no spoken words or a hint of disapproval when the other hand came free and he was able to wrap his arms around his teammate. There was a slight intake of breath the instant Neji leaned forward.


Naruto wasn’t sure how to react feeling those arms wrap around his neck and he was being surrounded by the sweet aroma that was all Neji. He wasn’t about to ask him to stop, instead he wrapped his own around the slender form, pulling the scent closer.


‘He’s sniffing me,’ the Byakugan user almost startled feeling the gentle caress of a lip brush across the shell of his ear. His ears picked up the soft inhaling of the blonde, he should be appalled that Naruto was acting like a dog but knowing whose lap he was seated in, he understood. It was also erotic as the mouth and nose went for his hair. His voice came out in a choked whisper, “Let me know when you start to feel uncomfortable.”


The only thing that was starting to get uncomfortable for jinchuriki was his pants. His body was reacting just having the other male close. Warmth was seeping from the lean chest to mingle with his own. The temptation was too strong, moving away from the thick strands of raven hair, his mouth found a delicate lobe.


“Wha…..”Neji came out of the tranquil high feeling wet heat incase his ear. It was nothing like the time when Lee had made an attempt to stimulate him through kissing his lobes. That time had been mildly irritating and he wanted to hastily scrub himself with a sleeve. Now, the action had shivers running down his spine and a moan wanting to bubble between parted lips. The difference in sensation was astounding and he couldn’t help but tighten his hold on the blonde.


Thinking things through had never been his forte; this was one of those moments. Naruto didn’t stop to consider the outcome of his actions; he just wanted to know how his teammate and friend would react to him. Not to mention he was gaining an arousing satisfaction with each labored breath the brunette took. He nibbled and sucked the tender piece of flesh, only to run his tongue along the delicate shell moments later. Fingers tightened at his nape, entwining in the locks. The slight tug on his hair got him to remove his mouth and move back a few inches. Doing so he got a good look at what he was causing. Neji’s eyes were mere slits, lips were parted and wet, and that gave him a wonderful idea.


Not once in the Hyuga genius’ life had he believed someone could affect him so strongly without really trying. If simple coddling had his body coming to life, he wasn’t sure if he’d survive if they ever took things further. Liquid fire blazed through his veins upon the harsh crash of firm lips on his. Starting this game he hadn’t planned on going this far but it was no longer him in control. A rough sweep of tongue and he was opening for the intruder, giving into the demand. Same as before Neji found himself becoming lost, so the kiss deepened.


Yes, he could definitely contend with doing this while on their mission. A sliver of guilt tried to force its way into Naruto’s consciousness. The emotion was quickly overridden by desire; the desire to keep going reasoned that this was practically normal. After all they were both shinobi and their duties required they perform certain tasks. In order to accomplish his mission in a sense he had to become his partner’s companion and perhaps lover. Even Tsunade-same had ordered him to kiss Neji for this mission; there was no reason why he shouldn’t do so again.


Neji moaned in the hot cavern possessing his mouth. Once more he’d surrendered in this campaign of wills and he was being taught who’d be in control. Their Hokage might have appointed him the team leader but the jinchuriki was taking the lead when it came to the physical aspect of their assignment. The hot morsel tasted every crevasse and corner, leaving nothing unexplored. His own couldn’t keep up, the overwhelming taste of chocolate made him eager for the kiss to continue.


He was in pain; it was so intense Naruto jerked back from the kiss and took a deep breath. There was no way in hell Neji could miss the telltale sign of his betrayal. As close as the other male was to him, the flat surface of stomach and groin was brushing against his arousal. His cock was wedged firmly between them and every time Neji moved his inner demon was demanding that he take things further. He had to call a halt to this now or he might do something that would impede their progress. He didn’t recognize his own voice; it was too husky and shaky. “Okay, I think I’m okay with that for now. It’s getting late and we should get some rest.”


“You’re right,” Neji felt the urge to apologize for letting things go that far. Luckily Naruto had put a stop to it before it went further. But that kiss had been just as amazing as the first and he was disappointed. Slowly removing himself, he tried to hide the tent that paled in comparison to the blonde’s. If he had any doubts as to what he’d felt in Tsunade-sama’s office there wasn’t any now. The hard length had been thick and pressing into his front, Naruto was definitely all male.


“Um, since we don’t know what our sleeping arrangements will be like once we get there. Maybe we should go ahead and get comfortable with sleeping in the same bed.” Naruto felt empty now that the brunette had vacated his lap. It was a valid excuse to be near each other. “My blanket should be large enough for both of us to sleep on and we can use yours to cover up with.”


“Very well,” he grabbed his own and watched the blonde lay on one side facing him. What were the chances of him getting any sleep tonight either? Seeing as he couldn’t really argue, Neji took the spot offered. No sooner that he had them both covered and was on his side an arm came to rest on his waist. “Goodnight.”


“Goodnight.”

Next chapter: Morning and a surprise visit...please read and review.