Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Hyuuga Swap ❯ Every Dog Has His Day ( Chapter 9 )

 

The Hyuuga Swap

(Chapter 9)

 

Neji x Naruto

 

(my humblest apologies for the lateness of this chapter. i had it essentially written weeks ago, but there was a tricky part in it i couldn't quite iron out. and, i wanted the smut to be good.) 

______________

"This is stupid," Sasuke announced with disdain.

"Shut up emo-goth nerd," Kiba muttered distractedly while he peered around the corner of a brick building. "It's for a good cause."

"Just because it's for you, doesn't make it a good cause."

Kiba sighed and slanted a look at the dark haired boy. "Must you be so - I  don't know. You know what? Never mind. Just stick to the plan and don't be a party wrecker."

"But it's a STUPID plan."

"Shhh! Lower your voice. I see them."

"It's retarded even. Who the hell wants ice cream when it's 50 degrees outside?"

"Sasuke, with all due respect, sometimes I have an overwhelming urge to smack you."

"It's illogical I tell you - why did we let NARUTO make the plan? He's horrible at planning."

"Flawed though it may be, it is working so far, as it got them out here."

Sasuke squinted at the two distant figures which appeared to match their targets. "And why am I involved? Naruto knows we don't get along that great when he isn't around."

Kiba sighed again and ruffled his hand through his longish spiked hair. "It won't work if he's here. He's blacklisted. And, he was probably trusting you to shut your gob and not mess this up for me."

Sasuke elbowed him sharply and glared. "Don't start with me, canine."

Kiba growled at him, but was promptly distracted. "Look, there they go. Now's probably as good a time as any."

Sasuke sighed, feeling like bait. "Alright, alright, here I go. Thank me later."

"Make it work, and I'll kiss your feet, my friend."

Sasuke muttered something ungraceful under his breath and stepped out from the cover of the building. He made a show of strolling nonchalantly over to the shaded bench on the far end of the plaza where a tall, well-built girl with sandy blonde hair stood talking to a reserved looking girl with blue-black hair and pale lilac eyes. They were eating ice cream.

"Hey good lookin'," Sasuke greeted, doing his best to saunter up to the blonde he was told should be Temari. "What's a girl like you doin' eating ice cream on a day like this?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sasuke wanted to punch himself in the face.

Horrible. Epicly horrible and an embarrassingly retarded thing to say. Dammit, Naruto, I knew that was a stupid line, Sasuke seethed. Probably the reason the dobe had said it in the first place - he knew Sasuke's memory was superb, and that if his mind went blank in an awkward social situation such as this, he'd fall back on the first thing that came into his head. He could almost here the uncontrollable snickering of Naruto in his head.

At least the blonde girl was holding in the laugh that was so evident in her dark aqua eyes.

Sasuke barreled on, making like he was chatting her up.

Oh, but it was a painful role to play. He was never good at stuff like this, and felt like a blithering idiot. For her part, Temari played along with a convincing look of sly interest. All the while, he pretended not to notice Hinata. In turn, he felt pale eyes settle on him with confused recognition.

"Um... Sasuke?" Hinata ventured, as if she were unsure of his name.

"Hinata?" Sasuke pretended to be startled as he looked at the girl sitting on the bench. In fact, he was dismayed that anyone else who knew him would be privy to his shameful attempts to prove he had game. It wasn't his fault though. Didn't most people avoid things they were inept at? 

"Y-Yes, hi."

"Oh! I apologize," Sasuke said gallantly, "I didn't recognize you for a moment." Stupid! Who else has eyes like that? Sasuke cursed Naruto again for his lack of strategic fortitude. It would be absolutely amazing if he could pull this off with the desired result. Now, he just had to stall another minute or two so Kiba could get his worthless ass over here and pretend that them running into each other was aaaall just a coincidence.

"Oh," she said quietly, poking at her ice cream.

"I -" Shit. Sasuke floundered for something to say. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you right away, Hinata," Sasuke put on his best attempt at sounding suave, "I was embarrassingly focused on your lovely companion."

Temari looked like she was going to die laughing. Silently. Her shoulders shook slightly, and it must've taken exorbitant effort to bottle all of that mirth into the politely flattered expression she wore when Hinata looked up.

Sasuke fought the urge to frown. What the hell was so damn funny? He wasn't doing that badly, was he?

"Could you introduce us?" Sasuke asked Hinata. This had to be the worst rouse ever. No one would believe that this awkward show was a simple 'Hey, your friend looked hot from across the way. Introduce us?' They'd have to be stupid.

"O-Okay..." She stood and looked between them.  "S-Sasuke, this is Temari, a family friend since I was little.  Temari, t-this is S-Sasuke. He's best f-friends with... with N-N-Naruto."

"Oh, sweetie," Temari said mournfully as Hinata blinked back tears. She reached out a hand to smooth over the younger girl's shoulder in a comforting motion. "Just try not to think about that."

Hinata sniffed, and her hands clenched into loose fists. "W-Why are you here, S-Sasuke?"

"I was -"

"D-Did N-Naruto send you t-to check up on me?"

Sasuke was puzzled. The girl was near crying, but her voice had a bite to it. Aggression.  "No. Why would he do that?"

Sasuke realized that was the wrong thing to say as the dark-haired girl's posture became very stiff. He hadn't meant to imply Naruto didn't care - he only meant to alleviate suspicion as to the blonde's involvement.

"And I s-suppose I am to believe you just happened to be p-passing by? And that you are really this bad at flirting?"

OW. That was a wound to the heart. This girl really didn't hold back -

"Even N-Naruto was more convincing than you."

Sasuke winced at the double edged words. Even Naruto was better at faking than you...

Aside from the pang he felt over Naruto's misconstrued feelings and intentions, Sasuke felt his honor shrivel up and die at his feet. The dobe was smoother than he was?? That couldn't be right. How could Naruto be naturally better than him at something? Was this world not just?

"And Temari, why are you acting like you're interested? You don't even like boys, do you."

Sasuke felt like his face slid off.

Temari merely looked startled.

"So why don't you tell me what this is all about?" Hinata's ice cream was gone, and her arms were crossed over her chest. For looking so delicate and harmless, she had a rather nasty pointed look.

Sasuke couldn't even answer. He was too busy being mortified and he could feel the color creeping into his face.  His courting of Temari had been for show, as was her favorable response - it'd been part of the plan. But to be called out on it and then find out she might be a lesbian AND a much better actor than he was made all of it somehow worse. Talk about barking up the wrong tree... Sasuke's body sagged in defeat. He was never going to interact with people again. It was too hard to endure situations like these - awkward embarrassment would kill him.

Temari spoke first, "Honey, you're getting paranoid. There's nothing going on. It's just coincidence."

"But-"

Temari adopted a stern look. "Do you think it that impossible that someone might come over to chat me up?" She made no move to confirm or deny Hinata's statement.

"Well, no..." Hinata wibbled, her previous attitude tapping back like an extra cigarette into its box.

"And is it outrageous that I might be nice to them?"

"But-"

"Yes, I would rather date girls, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a cute boy."

Sasuke squinted at her. Cute?

Temari glanced at him drolly. "Yes, hun, you're cute." She turned back to Hinata. "So is Neji. That's why I tease him so much. And so is our little Gaara, though he constantly works to reverse that with his abominable behavior. We are just surrounded with cute boys, and yet, I feel nothing more than platonic lassitude."

"Uh- hey guys. Is this a bad time?" Kiba said faintly as he ghosted up to their little group.

Sasuke fought the urge to wring his neck. What the hell took you so long?

The brunette looked worriedly at Sasuke who seemed a little worse for wear, and at Hinata who went from demure to bitch in two seconds flat.

"What's he doing here?!"

"Ah, and yet another cute boy, to illustrate my point."

"Hi, Kiba," Sasuke greeted him dully. Welcome to hell. "The girl you don't know is Temari."

"Hullo," Kiba replied, darting anxious glances at the dark-haired girl.

"This isn't coincidence," Hinata said, knotting the front of her thick shirt in agitated motions. "I refuse to believe that. I don't know what kind of games you're playing, but I'm leaving." 

"Did I do something wrong?" Kiba said in bewilderment.

"Yes," Hinata snapped. "You're HIS friend." She spun on her heel and trod angrily from the rest of them.

"She's taking this breakup thing rather hard," Temari explained as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Kiba looked torn between staying put, feeling severely chastised, and going after her.

"Go on, kid," Temari said, "She's all bark."

---

"Hinata, wait!"

The petite girl did not pause in her stride. If anything, she sped up.

She moved through the crowds and across the cobblestoned plaza, past the large stone fountain at its center.

Kiba growled, and put renewed effort into moving twice as fast as her so he could catch up.

She  had actually gotten so far as to enter the quiet park on the south side which was little more than a dirt path overcrowded with trees before he got close. "Hinata!" He caught her arm and spun her around.

"Leave me alone," she said acidly, tears in her eyes. She pulled at her arm.

"Hear me out, here," he said awkwardly as she fought his hold so emphatically.

"No. I don't want to. I'm going home, and I don't want to see any of you ever again." She wrenched her arm from his grip. "I will not be made a fool of."

She stormed off -

-three whole steps before Kiba called out, "I'm sorry."

She stopped, her back to him. "Whatever for?" Her tone was cautious and surprised.

"I'm sorry for what you're going through." Kiba wracked his brain for the right words to say to keep her from running off again. "I can't say from experience, but I'm sure it must be hard."  He was doing well so far. Impressive, coming from him. Man, this would've worked so much better if he and Sasuke could have reversed roles. Only, then Sasuke might be with Hinata and then he would have to kill the pompous ass, and Hinata might hate him. And, in that case he might as well just screw things up this way. At least he had a fighting chance. He paused, gathering a breath. "And I meant what I said before... that if you ever got rid of that blonde idiot I call a friend..."

She faced him, uncertainty etched across her pale face. "I-I don't know if I can-"

Kiba dropped to one knee and ducked his head. "Please give me a chance." Before you tell me no.

Kiba's dark, slanted eyes met hers. "Please?"

Her lips compressed into a thin line. Her eyes wide and childlike.

Oh, he was losing her. She was going to leave him in the dust any second... "I'll tell you now, it's more than a little hard to throw myself at your feet like this... I can't say it's my favorite thing I've ever done, but no pain, no gain, right?" He laughed, though it was more at himself than out of any good humor. "Oh man, I never thought I'd be the one expressing feelings and all. Not very manly of me is it?" Right, maybe if I keep talking, I can babble her into a confused state, and while she's trying to figure out what's wrong with me, I'll sweep her off her feet. God, I plan just about as well as Naruto.

He looked up into her face. "Hinata, I like you. A lot. I even considered offing Naruto, just so you might be free to look my way. I dismissed it for legal reasons, of course, and because I don't like how it smacks of 'ultimate betrayal' but the sentiment is still there."

"I... don't know what to say."

Part one: achieve confused state.. check. On to part two... "Say that you'll entertain the thought of dating me for at least a little while? Half a minute perhaps?"

She laughed a little, a smile edging its way onto her face.

I can make her laugh! "Do you want me to beg?" He offered in a congenial rush. "I could do that for you, if it gives me a leg up." He made like he was bowing at her feet. He started to chant her name in a ridiculously solemn and preposterous voice, as if he was praying at the altar of some ancient god (who would smite him for goofyness), before she interrupted him by a hand on his shoulder and her incredulous laughter.

"Kiba-" she fretted, her cheeks took on color, "you're embarrassing me."

Oh, she actually said my name! Good sign. He locked eyes with her. "Agree to coffee, and I promise to behave myself." He gave her his most charming smile, as he knelt in the dirt looking up at her, and tried not to think of what a blow it would be if she still brushed him off. He couldn't let that tarnish the expression from his heart. Doing things halfway doesn't win you the war. Or... something like that.

"If... If I say yes..."

Kiba nodded, encouraging her to continue.

She looked off to the side, and continued nervously, "C-Could you... tell me why you even like m-me? I d-don't understand..."

Kiba got to his feet, puzzling over her response, shaking some of the dirt from the knees of his pants. Wow. That looked kind of bad. Good thing it was a girl he'd been chasing after or people might talk. "I can't say what it is really... I just... I've been thinking about you since Naruto introduced you and we got to hang out and talk a little at the fun park..." He scruffed his hair and looked at her almost apologetically. "I was really jealous of him for being able to get to know you, whereas I had no chance after that one day."   

She flushed more and said quietly, "N-Naruto didn't r-really know me that well."  

Kiba leaned forward, hands now shoved in his pockets, his held tilted to the side quizzically as he peered into her face from a mere foot away. "Are you that hard to get to know?"

Hinata jumped at his nearness and turned bright red. "D-D-Don't d-do that, Kiba!" she stammered breathlessly, a hand now fisted over her heart.

Kiba blinked at her. "Oh, you mean..." he gestured at their proximity to which she nodded rapidly. "Personal space... mmm. Well, it isn't something I usually worry about, but if it bothers you, I'll pay more attention to it." He took one exaggerated step backwards. "How's that?"

"I-I didn't mean it bothered me..... I was s-startled..."

"Hinata, relax," Kiba said with a smile. "It's my fault... even though you make me nervous as hell, I feel as comfortable around you as I do my friends... And we are always in close quarters, so I didn't really even think about it."

"I-I make you nervous?? You don't sound nervous..."

"I may look like this," he gestured to himself, "but I'm an emotional wreck on the inside."

He inclined his head and started walking back to the plaza and she fell into step with him.

"I wish I c-could be as calm as you."

"It's just practice. I notice you stutter when you're nervous, which is a dead giveaway, but you can learn not to do it if you want." He slanted a look at her and saw she was pushing her fingers together. "And what you are doing with your hands, that is just a habit too."

She looked up with a cross between guilt and panic on her face.

Kiba waved his hands placatingly. "I'm not saying you need to change anything. I told you I like you just the way you are. I'm only saying it's possible."

She pushed her hands into her pockets. "I-I'm sorry. It is a s-sensitive s-subject for me. N-No one has ever come out and s-said how I stutter so badly. T-They knew and I knew, but w-we all just p-pretend that isn't the c-case."

Kiba cautiously reached out to lay a consoling hand on her back as they walked. She didn't reject it. "Habits are not so difficult to break. But you'll have to decide if those habits are ones you want to break. If they aren't hurting you - there may be no need to change."

"No. I think - I think I may need to."

"While you contemplate this life altering decision, could I tempt you with a latte and baked good of your choice at the shop over there?"

She swatted him lightly. "I hope you aren't teasing me?"

"Not at all." He grinned "They make delicious coffee."

She shyly nodded her assent and let him lead her to the quaint little shop, saying nothing of the warm hand that had never left her back.

---

"Oi!!! That's twice in a row, you bastard!!" Naruto yelled.

"Shut up and take it like a man," Neji replied calmly. He eyed the blonde who had leapt to his feet and was currently sinking into the couch cushions up past his ankles.

"It's rigged! There's no way! Just no way!"

"No, you just suck."

Naruto howled and looked like he was going to snap his game controller apart in a fit of rage, which really wasn't as all-encompassing as one would expect from his volume. "You had to have cheated. Admit it, you cheated!"

"I do NOT cheat," Neji said indignantly. "Some of us don't have to resort to such measures just to win at-"

"Lies!" Naruto crowed, still very much into the verbal scuffle. He actually did realize he was being ridiculous, but carrying on like this gave him a perverse sense of joy. Previously, Sasuke was the only person he could let loose with and not be held accountable past the moment. Neji was almost more fun just because he tried so hard not to react, to stay level-headed.

Naruto jumped in surprise as Neji rose up unexpectedly, grabbing him by the front of the shirt, pulling him down onto his knees and into a thorough kiss.

A shudder went through Naruto as the adrenaline reacted against the shot of pleasure trickling down his spine. His brain winked off for a few blissful moments of pure sensation. Amazing how readily his brain shirked its duties of processing. He had to whip its ass back into shape, or Neji was going to win these arguments every time.

"THAT'S definitely cheating," Naruto panted as he broke their kiss.

"Says who?" Neji murmured against the line of Naruto's jaw.

The whispered brush of lips was sensual. Soft, warm, lingering now upon his neck, upon skin exposed by the shortness of his blonde hair. Fingers brushed the fine hair at the nape of his neck, stroking it like one would a cat, languidly circling through the strands. Naruto felt his eyes close, his body leaning into Neji as he tried to track the movements.

It was soothing, but at the same time, Naruto could feel a subtle warmth lacing through him, cooking him slowly. Making him more and more aware of the taste of the air between them. Calm but electric. A lull created by the fuzziness of mind that can come about when you are sleepy, or are extremely turned on. A blanketing fog, but a welcome one. Where the boundaries between "I" and "you" are no longer distinct.  

Silken hair brushed his cheek, and Naruto found he was seeking the perfect column of Neji's throat. His mind was one step behind his body - but was in agreement that Neji smelled incredibly good, and he had to get closer. So he could breath him in... and feel the luxurious fall of deep mahogany hair against his face - enfolding him.

Naruto nuzzled Neji's skin. He pressed his teeth to flesh, and it was good. He heard as well as felt a stilted intake of breath and Neji's heart beating fast against his chest, a precious staccato. He sank his teeth down a little harder, and with that pressure, a stuttered beat and tensed body beneath him. Slender fingers tightened and flexed against his neck as he explored - the barest protest... or was it an entreaty?

---

Neji cast about to get his bearings and acknowledged the uselessness of that, even as he noted his own failure.

Things were devolving fast...

His own perceptions of his surroundings were being mired in the the sticky warm haze that Naruto was pulling around him, and the fire that was snapping up inside of him. Naruto's body was no longer sagging into his, but arced over him, pressing him down, his mouth hot and insistent...

Time was stretching out like elastic, spread so thin that at any time it would surely snap...

He held back a noise as Naruto's hands found purchase on his body, feeling the smile that spread across Naruto's lips as he did.

The blonde grew more bold in his ministrations, tweaking, pulling, wresting each minute acquiescent and unintentional sound from him with greater and greater success. Neji thought his own lack of control over his responses was appalling. Naruto was nothing but encouraged, and the way he was exuding confidence and hunger made it hard to do anything more than react - to let this pull him along.

I'm so glad Hinata isn't here, he thought with relief. This would be so off limits... And the constant fear of unexpected interruptions or being heard like this was unbearable. Hopefully Naruto's plan would bear at least some small measure of success, and they wouldn't have to tiptoe around as much when they were here. Hinata could go out with this Kiba guy and leave them the run of the place, so he wouldn't have to brave the horrors of Naruto's room as often just so they could be together.

"Hey," Naruto said in a sex-roughened voice. "You just full-body shuddered... you weren't thinking about my room by any chance?"

"Yes," Neji responded, his voice attempting to sputter out on him. It sounded deep and throaty to his ears. It did not sound needy.  "and I want to not think about it again as quickly as possible."

Naruto traced his tongue along the curve of Neji's ear. "Help me clean it up later... and I'll do whatever you want right now."

Neji's body quickened headily, proving itself to be working independently from his surprisingly coherent brain. Ughhh. He managed not to agree, though he wanted to say yes to anything Naruto said in a voice like that. Cleaning that up would take the better part of a day! It would also be monstrously tiring, woefully tedious, the antithesis of fun... and yet... some part of him demanded it be done. That tiny voice in the back of his head, that he should ignore to the fullest extent, was trying to tell him he needed to do it. That he could not rest at night knowing that he might at any time have to revisit that horror.

"You're evil," Neji groaned covering his face with a hand. He knew he was slightly OCD, but he never realized how all-encompassing, unavoidable, and embarrassingly consuming it was until he'd met with Naruto's room.

"Not 'evil', resourceful," he replied as his hand ghosted between them.

Naruto was just now discovering how he might bend this to his advantage.

Neji was not fooled. If he gave in, that room would resume its natural state in less than a week. Tops. His hand twitched. Yet, there was a slight possibility Naruto might keep it neat afterwards... a small ray of hope... that was surely about as substantial as the end of a rainbow.  No, best to leave it be.  His sanity could not withstand seeing that room overthrow order once he'd worked on it. "Nothing is worth that,"  he said definitively. Damn it was hard to stay focused when- ahh... Naruto was touching him like this -

Naruto leered at him. "That is such a lie. Look, you can't even keep your impassive face while you say that."

Neji felt his face heat. It was a feat - not many people could successfully make him flustered. The blonde was getting more crafty with each passing day.

Naruto's hand was a gentle but firm kneeding pressure, working at him until he could think of nothing but fingers and sensation. The sharp ache in his groin and the need to feel flesh on flesh was overwhelming. Neji shuddered as Naruto lavished his skin with the bold caress of his tongue, making him trace it with his eyes even behind closed lids. See? The fact that he went right for that sensitive spot under my ear just then?

He was pinned beneath Naruto, at the mercy of the hips that straddled his, the hands that found and encircled his wrists, the knowing smile that was finding it's way onto Naruto's faux-innocent face as he suddenly felt the world sway out of his control. He was completely at the mercy of his NEED which was overruling all else.

It was heady and liberating...

It was new. Uncharted.

In a way, terrifying.

His heart was beating so loud in his chest that it felt like the voice of his entire body.

He tested the blonde's hold on him, sucking in an expectant breath.

Relentless.

"Neji," Naruto murmured huskily, "I think I like you like this."  Lips teased his. Breaths, soft puffs of air tickled the sensitive skin of his mouth as a tentative tongue flicked gently over his full bottom lip, questing, then thrusting solidly inside - splitting his mouth with a soft moan. Veins of fire were threading through him, heating his blood and pooling in his stomach.  

Neji's head was spinning. Naruto was becoming more aggressive, more demanding, filling out a potential neither of them had suspected he had.

Naruto was the only one, if they went all the way like this... The only one Neji had ever let come this far, this close to completely cracking him open and wresting every shred of control, composure and decency from him. The only one he'd have let have power over him...

Just thinking about it sent a flush of heat through his body so hot it made him dizzy. He never thought he'd be able to allow it. To willingly let anyone have dominance over him in any way... but just now the idea was stirring his blood unbearably.  His body was hardened, meeting Naruto's in the sensual sway of hips - unwanted clothing getting in the way but making their desire all the more potent for its obstacle.

"I'm going to take you right here," Naruto said in his ear in a brash whisper - his voice throbbing with surety and sex.

"On the couch?" Neji tried to sit up, still trying to make his brain register this Naruto as the same one he was dating. You think you know a person...

"Yes."  Naruto's eyes were luminous orbs of midnight, shining with the dark glow of lust, like starlight on a moonless night.... Perhaps an overly florid way of describing them, but it was hard not to wax poetic when they were swallowing you whole. "Right here," Naruto affirmed, undoing the clasp on Neji's pants with the flick of a hand.

He exposed Neji's tight stomach and the graceful curve of his hip bones, greeted them with reverent lips, his mouth sweeping a hot trail over trembling skin as he moved between them. Neji felt that smile grace the blonde's face again as his boxers slid down inch by scintillating inch, driving him mad with the slow downward trend and the touch of cloth skating across his aching flesh.

Breath teased his skin, hot on hot.

Then lips kissed him there, open-mouthed and sensual, tasting him with a sly tongue, blinding him with a flash of white light across the backs of his eyes as that beautiful mouth suddenly enveloped him. He couldn't bear to look, even if he could see. He was so sure the image would undo him. He would be lost to steadfast blue eyes darkened with desire... to the picture of himself disappearing into his partner's slick, perfect little mouth.

He closed his sightless eyes, and tried to take stock of the fire burning him up from the inside, the cool air hitting his dampened, flushed face and the fine tremors that were overtaking his limbs as Naruto was arousing him past all reason. All that existed in they grey field of his mind was the desire that pulled so insistently through hardened flesh that it began to feel like pain.

A gasp that he wasn't sure was his own sounded in his ears as Naruto's lips slid from him. A sound like despair - even as the blonde's voice fell upon him like a mist, and kisses layered upon his face and mouth like the soft patters of rain. As if they could somehow drown the flames consuming his being. As if they would proof him against the sparks that flew as Naruto's  body covered his, hard and trembling with desire.


Neji's body was a shaking mess by the time Naruto slid inside of him, slicked and heavy, stretching him so fully he thought he'd break. Every touch felt electric, and his skin and muscles jerked in response to fingers, mouth, and fever-hot skin.  He felt pinioned, like a butterfly in a collector's case, held still but still moving. Only he wasn't trying to get away.

His hips rose to meet the gripping torment - meeting the punishing pace, craving the hard pleasure of it. Break me.  

Naruto was rippling through him, his body, his senses... filling him up, and yet giving him more. More. It was painful, beautiful.

Neji captured his lips, this gorgeous blonde boy who had somehow become his, and kissed him with every ounce of passion and wonder that had ever been bestowed upon him. It seared his soul, the emotions that flowed so fiercely through him and brought him to completion as Naruto kissed him back just as desperately.

Neji gasped into his mouth, feeling a riot of sensation seize his body, as release blazed through him at last, wringing him dry.

Naruto's grip on him tightened and the blonde cried out as he came, shuddering violently from the force of it as it ravaged him.

He collapsed, panting heavily, an arm sprawled across Neji's chest, his fingertips tangled in his dark hair.

Their harsh breaths filled the silence accompanied by the gradual slowing of their frantic heartbeats.

"That was unexpected," Naruto managed to get out a few moments later.

"You're telling me," Neji murmured languorously, still dazed.

Naruto dragged his limbs into a more satisfactory position and burrowed against Neji's side. "You liked it," he said with assurance, a teasing tone to his voice.

Neji regarded the blonde tucked under his arm, now completely restored to his usual self, and raised an eyebrow. His face was full of innocent satisfaction. A sleepy smile and tousled hair made him look like 20 going on 10. "How do you go from dominating to fluff in the span of three minutes?"

Naruto shrugged and yawned cutely. "Latent talent?"

"I despair of you."

"I love you too," Naruto said as he snuggled closer.

---

 

 

"So you see, it really has become something of a problem," Sasuke slurred over his 4th margarita. He still wasn't sure what made him decide to spill his guts to this girl he just met, especially since sexual repression and preferences seemed something one would normally keep to one's self... but she was really easy to talk to and exceedingly insightful.

 

Temari nodded sagely. "Especially if it has you drinking Tequila. Nasty hangovers with that."

 

"What??" Sasuke blurted out. "I thought it was a safe drink!" And now he'd tipped his hand. An hour and a half ago, his lips had been virgin to the taste of alcohol.

 

Temari shook her head and took a sip of her Long Island Iced Tea. Might as well get a drink that's a pain to make at home if you're going to pay top dollar, she thought.
"Who told you that?"

 

"Er... " Sasuke was reluctant to say anything to further make himself seem like an uneducated moron. Was this how Naruto felt around him? Man, stupid people sure have it rough.

 

"Thing that gets me about Tequila," she went on, "is all the critters that get mixed into it."

 

"Huh?"

 

"From the agave. You, know, like the worm you sometimes see at the bottom?"

 

"Not sure I'm following you..."

 

"Tequila is made from the agave plant - it's vaguely cactus-like," she added at his confounded look. "It's riddled with worms like the one they put in some of the bottles. So, distilled or not, Tequila is just glorified worm juice to me." She took a hearty swig of her drink.

 

Sasuke slowly turned a violent shade of green as her words began to paint a vibrant picture. It was almost as colorful as the bushes he threw up on after stumbling outside the bar.

 

 

Five minutes later, Sasuke slunk back into the bar and crawled back onto his barstool. "Please don't talk to me ever again."

 

"Ever?" she said with a teasing air. "But I was going to give you some really great advice about the other stuff..."

 

He looked at her balefully.

 

"Okay, okay," she waved her hand dismissively. "Obviously your constitution is too delicate for the truth."

 

"That, just now, was totally different." How do you expect someone NOT to feel sick after saying they'd been drinking worm juice?

 

"If you say so." Siiiiiiip.

 

"You are an infuriating girl."

 

"Thank you. All of my favorite people say so."

 

"If you weren't rabidly gay, I'd say that was your twisted attempt at flirting."

 

"But I am, and I'm not. You're just fun to harass."

 

"Stop dispelling my insults."

 

"What insults?" she said innocently.

 

She was crap for acting, or maybe she just wasn't trying.

 

Sasuke heaved a huge sigh and frowned mightily.

 

She smiled at him and patted his cheek disparagingly. "Aw, you're so cute, Sasuke."

 

He swatted at her hand half-heartedly. She evaded him as she consulted her watch.

 

"C'mon, stormcloud, time to go." She slid off her stool easily, and waited for him to fumble along. "I'll see if I can't come up with a nice boy for you to date."

 

"What?!" he cried out indignantly.  "What the hell makes you think I -"

 

She slung an arm around his neck, partially just to cut the flow of air that was fueling his forthcoming rant.

 

"See, I told you you couldn't handle the truth," she remarked as they stepped outside and the door swung closed behind them.

 

________________________

END

 

AN:
And at last the story is resolved!
I am terribly sorry about the long wait for the final chapter. I swear the smut needed a face lift - everything else was written weeks ago.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for the lovely reviews. :)

Till we meet again...

(Note: I am nearly complete on an Axel x Roxas, and I have great and evil plans for a Gaara x Naruto AU.)