Colors

* Hello again. Sorry it took me longer to post this but its finally here. Thanks for the encouraging review, Kiara. Its really appreciated. I don’t mind if my story doesn’t get as many reviews as it should and I don’t think its because people are lazy either. Firstly, I think its because with the amount of inspiration garnered from the latest series and manga, there’s been a slew of wonderful creations aside from mine (yours included). So it tends to get lost. I can barely remain on the first page of new stories posted for longer than a day. Secondly, if I don’t receive too many reviews its alright. So long as the people who read it are enjoying the story, I’m fine. After all, I just have lots to express that I need share. However, as usual, do your R&Rs if you would like to see more.

Finally, on questions to do with plot, I’m inclined to stay silent. Sorry if its mean but I tend to like surprises. But other than that, here’s no.5 and I hope it makes you feel alive… I know… lame… Cheers!

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Chapter 5

Neji caught a glimpse of blonde hair that stood out in the dense crowd. He was waiting anxiously for Naruto behind the small podium that had been constructed in front of his featured paintings. He watched as Naruto led a familiar looking dark haired man to stand somewhere further from the stage and exchanged a few words before continuing to make his way towards him.

“Hokay, are you ready?” Naruto said excitedly.

“Yeah, I’m just worried that this won’t work.” He lifted his hand to show Naruto a spherical white foam-like object that one of Naruto’s assistants had passed him earlier. The hard ball was no larger than the size of his palm and he looked at it more carefully trying to decipher exactly how it will perform the miracle that was to come.

“Don’t fret. I tested it already.” Naruto assured whilst Neji heaved a sigh and said a silent prayer in his head.

Naruto then stepped up on stage with a cordless microphone and signaled for the background music to die down. He cleared his throat into the mike before beginning.

“Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please? Welcome to the Spiral Art Gallery, my name’s Naruto, the owner and I’m honored to have you part with your precious Saturday evening to grace tonight’s ‘boring’ art exhibition.” The crowd giggled, amused with Naruto’s witty remark.

“Well, I supposed that it would’ve been boring if not for the wonderful works displayed around the gallery and the gathering of some of the cities greatest thought leaders tonight such as your good selves. However, one particular favorite thought leader of mine has chosen to display his latest expressions in Spiral and I have the proud duty of launching his creations this evening. He is none other than Hyuuga Neji, master painter and creator of famed collections such as “The Metropolis” and “Children”. Tonight, we celebrate yet another birth from his artistic revelation that will soon be unveiled. Therefore, without wasting any more time, I present….. Hyuuga Neji and his collection, “The Sakura”.”

The crowd applauded and Neji took his place to face the crowd behind a 2ft wide, clear glass cylinder-shaped pool that was the center piece for the canal water feature spreading throughout the gallery. The pool was raised high enough for the crowd to observe the midsection like an aquarium, which created a huge heated atmosphere as the audience eagerly waited in anticipation for what was to happen next.

Neji breathed in deeply, *Well, here goes*, and dropped the ball. As soon as the ball hit the water, the DJ cued and played a shortened version of Royksopp’s “Weightless” beginning with the beats. As the music built so did the white ball expand and slowly, the crowd began to gasp in awe as the shape of the growing object gradually became more recognizable. The ball was slowly absorbing the water from the pool setting two chain reactions in the process. The first was to push a thin plastic plate to the bottom of the pool, which was attached to a thin string that pulled a clasp, dropping light flowing white cloths to unveil the paintings beneath. The second reaction was to drain some of the water in the canal creating a current to draw the lighted candles into the main gallery to further brighten the paintings. When the music finally finished playing, the ball had blossomed into a large Sakura flower in full bloom, the paintings were all unveiled and the crowd cheered at the sight of the 8 breath-taking images.

Naruto resumed the stage and the music faded out as he introduced Neji for his speech.

“Good evening fellow art connoisseurs. Thank you for coming tonight and forgive me if I make this short. As you all know, artists aren’t very good at expressing themselves with words.” The audience laughed.

“So I’ll get right down to it and share with you a little something that happened. A few close friends of mine who had the benefit of viewing my paintings before tonight asked me earlier, why I had painted what I did and they insisted it was because I had a new love in my life. They kept pressing me for who it was and I’m sure some of you here are indeed interested in a scoop on that as well…. However, they were a little stunned when I replied their question with another question, which was “Isn’t it obvious?” It took them awhile but they finally figured it out. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s the true meaning behind the paintings. I wanted the people who saw them to be reminded of what was or is obviously the most important thing in their lives and I hope tonight, that the paintings here will allow you to share that same experience I had as well. With that, I thank you all for your support and hope you’ll enjoy the viewing. Thank you.”

The crowd cheered. Naruto ended the session with an invitation to explore his gallery and to the after party that was to be held on the second floor where the bar was. The DJ resumed the tunes with “Eple”. As soon as Neji stepped off the podium he was surrounded by a mass of art critics, magazine editors and news journalists. He entertained and humored them with his impromptu answers and effortlessly avoided the more intrusive questions without batting an eye lid. Naruto stood quietly by his side but saw that Neji needed no help. He was well trained and very professional with the media but then again, Neji had always been one of those perfectionists that Naruto could only aspire to become.

Naruto’s gaze flitted to the spot where he had left the Uchiha, remembering suddenly that he had promised to pay him back as soon as the main launch event was over. Catching the Uchiha gazing at one of the Sakura paintings, he left Neji’s side to accompany the ‘lone wolf’, which Naruto had come to call Sasuke in his mind.

“So, what do you think of the paintings?” Naruto asked Sasuke.
Without turning to face him, Sasuke continued to scrutinize the painting before him and gave Naruto his comments, “Hmm, I’ve never seen his previous collections. But I must say, this was really skillfully done. His choice of color tone is remarkable and his attention to how the light would’ve reflected off the oiled surface is close to perfect. I wonder how many will notice that each sakura has fine pink lines in them, which is the source of each flower’s radiance.”

Naruto’s eyes widened. *He’s in to art and what fucking pink?* Naruto turned to look at the painting himself and realized that what Sasuke had just pointed out was indeed true. The lines were so fine that unless you kept your eyes opened and peeled at the same spot of a particular Sakura for at least 20 seconds, you wouldn’t notice them. Naruto turned to look back at Sasuke who being short-sighted, had taken off his spectacles to have a closer look at the painting. Holding his spectacles in his left hand, he gnawed at the tip of one of its handles as he folded his other arm to support his left elbow. Naruto couldn’t help but watch the young man in awed silence. He observed Sasuke’s thought filled posture and his angelic facial features framed by the fringe of his midnight blue hair, which made for the perfect contrast.

Having satisfied himself, Sasuke put his glasses back on before turning to Naruto.

“So, where’s that cheque?” Sasuke asked and tucked his hands into his pockets; Naruto’s concentration broken with the sudden question.

“Oh… here.” Naruto fished out a cheque book from one of his kimono sleeves and placed it onto a nearby cocktail table before scribbling ¥80,000 and signing it. He then ripped it out from the book before handing the cheque over to Sasuke who pocketed it quickly whilst making a mental note to rip the cheque as soon as he left the gallery.

“Not coming to the after party?” Naruto asked hopefully.

Sasuke thought for a moment. He eyed the sinfully radiant figure before him and decided to refuse the offer for fear of stepping over his boundaries with more than a little alcohol already pumping in his veins.

“No thanks. I was here to collect the cheque and that’s it.”

“Ah, I see. Well then, thanks for dropping by.”
With another short “Hn” Sasuke turned to walk out the gallery. As he passed the reception, he turned to look back at the spot where he had left Naruto but found he was already gone. He then took out the bidding card, wrote his bid for one of Neji’s paintings and handed it to Naruto’s assistant before making his way home.

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Upstairs, the party was well underway and Naruto desperately weaved through the crowd in search of his friends, which was rather difficult due to the dim lighting. He had hired someone to turn his second floor into a temporary disco and almost instantly regretted it when he noticed someone in the distance crouching and puking. *Ugh* he thought. He finally managed to make his way to the bar and called for a couple of shots of single malt whiskey, consuming both shots at one go. He instantly began to feel better with a slight buzz having built in his brain and the tune changing to Alex Gaudino’s “Destination Unknown”.

“Naruto!” A familiar female voice called out to him.

“Sakura! My, my, if it isn’t your night tonight.”
Sakura laughed and gave Naruto a brief hug.

“Yeah, I wish I had the money to buy all of the paintings but you know, working as an art critic doesn’t exactly pay you the best money. If I had to spend ¥500,000 per painting, I’d be broke by now.”

“What are you talking about? Sakura, you’re the best art critic in town, not to mention the most famous? Surely you have more than that stashed somewhere in that cute tight outfit of yours.”

“Awe, Naruto, you’re not trying to get into my panties again are you?” She flirted harmlessly with him and followed her teasing remark with a painful smack to Naruto’s back.

Naruto laughed it off and reassured her that he no longer was interested. He had had the honor of getting into her undies before during their college years when Sakura finally admitted that she had feelings for him. The two maintained the relationship for two full years before deciding mutually that being friends was the best for both of them.

Naruto felt two strong hands encircle him. He turned his head only to find Gaara resting his weight on his shoulder.

“Gaara, cut it out.” Naruto wriggled trying to free himself from Gaara’s grasp.

“Well, looks like you’re both busy and I see a really cute guy I’d like to chat with. So see ya!” Sakura walked away with Naruto reaching out to her desperately looking for rescue.

“Gaara, get-off-me,” Naruto said firmly in a low growl which made Gaara free his grip instantly.’

“Lighten up, Sai’s not around.”

“You’re drunk and I think you better head home before you really injure yourself. I’ll get you a cab.”
As Naruto turned to go Gaara grabbed onto his wrist forcefully, causing him to snap around and hurting his hand in the process.

“Ow, you fucking jerk. Let go and please don’t make me punch you.” Naruto said forcefully ignoring the sharp pains radiating from his wrist.

“Gaara, that’s enough.” Neji stated firmly with Shikamaru by his side. Admitting that he had lost the upper-hand, Gaara reluctantly let go and stormed off.

“That jerk can really be an asshole sometimes.” Naruto commented whilst rubbing his sore wrist.

“Better adjourn upstairs to get it checked. I’ll manage the party for you in the mean time,” Shikamaru offered.
Nodding in agreement, Naruto let Neji take the lead as he parted the crowd to make way for him.

They finally arrived on the third floor where Naruto’s office was. Neji closed the door to the blaring techno beats whilst Naruto flopped onto his leather couch still cradling his injured hand.

“Where’s the first aid?”

“In that second cabinet behind my desk.”
Neji turned on the desk lamp and fished the kit out from the specified location to take out the deep heat rub from the box.
“Seriously its not that bad.” Naruto remarked after observing the worried look on his friend’s face.

Kneeling down before Naruto, Neji instructed, “Let me see.” Naruto slowly but cautiously placed his right hand onto Neji’s open palm. Neji eyed the slowly bruising area and applied a generous amount of cream onto it. With his free hand, he exerted a gentle amount of pressure whilst rubbing in the cream slowly. Naruto winced slightly but thought better than to make any sudden moves in case he injured it further. Neji finished off the treatment by neatly bandaging the injured wrist, a process Naruto watch carefully, slightly mesmerized by how elegant Neji made nursing look.

“Better?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Naruto said shyly having felt slightly uncomfortable with the close contact and being reminded about his earlier thoughts. Neji got up to return the tube into the kit.

“Hey… Neji.”

“Hmm?” Neji finished restoring the kit into its rightful place before turning to face Naruto and making himself comfortable by leaning against Naruto’s large solid oak desk with his arms folded.

“Nah, nevermind. Its nothing,” Naruto backed away.

“The answer’s ‘yes’.” Neji answered the unspoken question.

“What?”

“I said the answer’s yes.”

“Neji, I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t need to and I didn’t feel like hiding it anymore, hence the paintings.” Neji concluded.

“…. Look, I really wasn’t ready to hear it.”
The two fell silent. Neji didn’t feel it necessary to explain himself further. Also he thought it better to remain silent as he knew that he had just caused turmoil in Naruto’s feelings for him as a friend.

“Neji, I really don’t know what to say, I mean, really, to me it doesn’t matter which way you swing. I just wasn’t prepared for it to be my way.”

“I know…. And I’m sorry I laid it on you, but, I just can’t remain silent anymore. I’m not asking for anything in return. Its just that it felt like I was betraying you by keeping quiet about it.”

Naruto looked up to see Neji’s light-grey eyes water slightly. He got up and headed towards Neji who bravely let his eyes trail the blonde figure. Deciding to let his intuition guide him, Naruto stopped in front of his friend’s slightly quivering form and did the first thing that came to mind. He pulled Neji into a tight embrace. “Neji, don’t apologize….. We can’t choose who we love now… can we?” Naruto said softly and let Neji sob quietly into his shoulders, soaking his expensive Kimono in a stream of tears. Naruto gently caressed Neji’s long strands of silky black hair, trying his best to comfort him. Neither knew how much time had passed but Neji finally lifted his head to smile at Naruto.

“Thanks, I needed that. Come on, I’ll take you home.” Neji said in a slightly croaking voice.

“You mean you’ll take me back safely to my home right?”

“Fuck you Naruto.”

“I hope you don’t mean that.” Neji gave Naruto’s shoulder a playful punch and the two laughed as they made their way to leave the gallery.

TBC