A/N I'm back for my first shot at uke Neji. Yay! (For the record, Neji is shorter than Sasuke and Gaara)
I have no beta! Sorry for the mistakes.

Coffeehouse Mysterious

Full Summary:
Neji is a prestigious academy student. A scholar that every college wants and a guy that none of the girls can get. He's got style, grace and a body the Gods would slaughter humans for. He works at a small coffee shop seeking refuge from the high style life he was born into. Dating Sasuke has taken its toll on him and he's begun to wither away. Gaara is a public high school student who has accidentally committed a serious murder in his hometown. He flees with a friend and ends up in the same coffee shop Neji works in. Neji falls curious to Gaara's sudden presence and the two become friends after Gaara transfers to his school. Only, Gaara plans to kill Neji too and take all his money and wealth but at the price of losing someone he's begun to love? When Neji falls pregnant he blames his ex, never imagining it could be Gaara. But neither Neji's ex, nor Gaara want anything to do with him. Will Neji be able to convince Gaara they should be more than friends? Or will Gaara's evil behavior cause him to end the Hyuuga's life. (Rated for, Rape, Mpreg, Language, Uchihacest, and a bunch or other derogatory stuff)

Chapter I
Now You Can Pronounce This Monday

Neji's class was on the other side of the campus.He was walking with his head held high down the third story hall of his expensive all male academy arts school. A junior and top in his class, Neji roamed the halls like he had nothing to fear. He owned what everyone else wanted to own. He stepped on the smaller boy's hopes and he pressed his hips against any well-built boy who wanted him.

Of course that was all a year ago. Neji was a senior now and he didn't own the school anymore. He barely ever held his head high as he walked through the halls of his upscale school. He didn't crash people's hopes and he most certainly didn't interact with any other guys.

Walking calmly close to the lockers on the right isle of the second story Neji headed for the auditorium. The senior invitational was going on and he was late but that was the least of his worries. Who wanted to sit in the fold-up chairs with a bunch of pompous boys stating their goals for college? Neji already knew he was going to get in to Bellford University. He and five others had already been selected. Why did he need to hear about the boys who would never accomplish what he had?

"Nice of you to join us, Hyuuga," the headmaster, Orochimaru, was standing silently on the stage. The entire school turned around to watch Neji walk down the isle with his head slightly dropped. No one really understood why he'd begun to wither so badly but everyone knew whose fault it was.

Neji could see his boyfriend sitting in the front row of the auditorium. The seat next to him was vacant and unlike everyone else in the room, he was not looking back at Neji. The Hyuuga sauntered down the isle in his uniform. His jacket was slightly hanging off his right shoulder. His hair was ruffled to the side and his face was fairly flush.

Anyone could tell he'd had a run-in with someone before the assembly. An encounter that ended in him losing most of his clothes. He'd probably rushed in putting them back on but no one even mentioned it. No one was a saint at their academy.

Neji slid into his chair on the left of Sasuke and the brunette looked over at him casually. He slicked back his hair and let his right arm fall coolly behind his chair.

"It took you long enough to get dressed Hyuuga. I would expect my boyfriend to walk around school with me. But if that's too hard for you, I can just find someone else." Sasuke used his left hand to slyly touch Neji's thigh. Neji looked to his right and blushed but he pushed Sasuke's hand away.

"It wouldn't have taken me so long if you hadn't decided the shower was sufficient enough for us. I had to get new clothes from the assistant principal. Not to mention the story I had to come up with to hide why they were wet in the first place." Neji loved how it felt when Sasuke touched him, he just really couldn't stand being treated like he was some second-rate whore.

Sasuke would have laughed if it were one of his characteristics. If Neji's hunch was right, Sasuke wasn't only screwing him. He wouldn't have been surprised though. Sasuke was probably screwing everything in the academy. Including their headmaster.

So why was Neji with Sasuke? Well, there were three major rules of a student attending the academy. One, pretty people belonged with other pretty people. Neji being pretty belonged with the most gorgeous boy in all of school. Two, voted most gorgeous enabled you to own whatever you wanted. Sasuke wanted Neji. Three, All is fair in stealing, cheating, screwing and of course war.

Sighing, Neji spent the rest of the assembly ignoring Sasuke as much as he could. He'd only agreed to see Sasuke in the gym so they could talk but things had gotten cared away. He wanted to tell Sasuke that things between them weren't working but that hadn't worked either.

Neji walked into the coffeehouse on the corner of two lower-class streets in his downtown city. He'd chosen this location to work and get away from the students at his academy. He couldn't stand them and he knew they wouldn't travel outside of their safe zones for some expensive hot chocolate.

He walked to the back of the building where two of his coe workers were having what looked like a very unimportant conversation. Stepping passed them both he got to his locker and threw his backpack inside. He was coming straight from school so his uniform was still on. He wore a navy blue blazer with a cream button down shirt, which was currently un-tucked. A burgundy tie that hung lose around his neck and black slacks that were wrinkled along with his shoes, which were scuffed.

His coe workers took one look at his silky hair and noticed how uncombed and tangled it looked. Neji ignored their stares and reached in his locker his the green apron everyone at his job was issued. He removed his jacket and his tie, tossing them inside the small locker like he didn't need to wear them the next day.

"What's up Hyuuga, just get back from your boyfriend's house? Looks like he did number on you."

Neji did his best to just pretend Kiba wasn't really there. Everyone knew he'd seen his boyfriend and he had done a number on Neji in the shower room at school. Neji loved the boy no matter how aggressive he seemed to be but today was rough. It was either take it or be alone. And Neji hated being alone.

"Give 'em a break Kiba. Neji's got enough problems with the guy, he doesn't need you down his back all the time," Naruto hoped up on a small table that the manager usually kept refreshments on. "It's not Neji's fault he got stuck with the hottest guy in town," he snickered quietly.

"You're no better than he is, " Neji voiced, rolling his sleeves up as he kept his eyes on the floor. He stood carefully and looked inside the locker at his mirror, fixing his hair calmly. He half rolled his eyes when he heard Naruto protesting behind him.

The blond had been expelled from their academy two semesters prior and he held a grudge against Neji for snagging the boy he wanted. Neji knew Naruto wanted his boyfriend but there was nothing he could do about it. Sasuke refused to date anyone less attractive him. It was also a rule. And since Sasuke owned the school he owned Neji.

Neji closed the metal door and tied his hair in a low ponytail. He unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt and started walking out to start his shift. Naruto was trailing behind him whining about Neji filling in for him this weekend since he had Saturday school. The Hyuuga was somewhere else. He barely ever heard anything Naruto said.

Neji tapped a small girl on the shoulder. She was working the register and talking playfully with one of the customers on the other side of the room. She turned around once she felt Neji's touch, then she smiled.

"Oh Neji you're here early today!" She gave him a thumbs up and stepped aside so he could clock in. "Good luck, " she sang and then skipped off to the back room. Neji would have smiled but he was in such a horrible mood today. He was trying to forget what Sasuke had been doing to him just as the last bell rang. He had red marks all over his neck. Good thing his shirt had a collar today.

"If you love me you'll do it Neji. Don't you love me? Don't you, Neji?" Sasuke hands drifted down inside Neji's pants and squeezed him eagerly. Neji winced but he couldn't deny the good feeling crawling up his body. As much as he wanted Sasuke to stop, he also wanted him to finish and then lay with him somewhere where they could just be alone.

"Neji? Neji? Hello! Customer!" Naruto gave him a nudge, waking him from his slight blackout. Neji shook his head and rubbed his eyes just a little. He looked up to see a hooded boy no taller than him standing at the counter. He was looking down and his eyes were hidden.

"Can I help you?" Neji asked, looking away and tapping the keys on the register. He waited for at least ten seconds but the boy never said anything. "Sir?" Neji tired to make sure that the boy had heard him.

"Just this," The mysterious boy put two box juices of organic apple juice on the counter and put a five dollar bill next to them. He took the juices and left the counter just as quickly as he had walked up. Neji raised his eyebrow before he grabbed the money and stuck it in the register drawer.

He shift was from 4pm until 9pm and he wasn't looking forward to working his part-time job today. He glanced at the hooded boy every so often as he sat in the corner. He hadn't left after he'd bought his two dollars and fifty cents worth of apple juice. He was sitting in the darkest corner of the café with his head down. Neji wondered if he was sleeping.

"He sure has been there for a long time," Naruto stepped up behind him and peeked over his shoulder. "You think he's homeless? He looks like he's got no place to be," he clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Poor guy."

Neji felt sorry for the kid in a way. He wasn't usually sympathetic towards people he didn't know but somehow this boy was dragging his mood even further down. Something about him just felt so pitiful and Neji couldn't help but feel for him. He knew all too well about regretting life.

Neji looked at his watch around 8pm that night. The boy still hadn't left the shop and had only consumed one of his cartons. By now Neji was too distracted to pay him any mind though. In the door waltzed two familiar faces. Trying to act like he didn't see them, Neji grabbed Naruto. He was making a latte for a woman who looked like she ran her own cooperate office.

"Take over for me," he begged and pulled on Naruto's shirt. He was desperate to get away from whoever was coming through the door but Naruto was being too loud and the customers coming inside noticed Neji quickly.

"No way Neji, I'm busy. I can't work the counter and make the damn coffee." Naruto smashed the plastic cap on the coffee cup and threw a sleeve on it.

"Naruto, come on. I really needed to be home," Neji's voice was shaking. Naruto turned and looked at him then he saw who was walking in the door. He gulped and then pushed Neji towards the back.

"Just this once, " he coughed and pretended he had been talking to someone else as the two people appeared at the counter at the same time. Naruto smiled and rubbed his hands dry on his apron.

"What can I do for the two most attractive guys in all of Konoha?" Naruto winked at the two boys and then turned slightly to see if Neji had gone.

"Uzumaki Naruto. Who knew you worked in such a dump? What happened to you being the richest man in town?" The boy talking to Naruto was tall, very tall and…blue?

Naruto laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Good one Kisame. Now are you here to stare at these beautiful eyebrows or you gonna order something?" It was his intention to anger the guy who resembled a fish but his accomplice stepped in quickly, cutting off Kisame's next words.

"Uzumaki, I believe I saw the Hyuuga boy in here. I have business to take up with him." Naruto hated this guy a little more than he hated being wrong. Uchiha Itachi, elder brother to Uchiha Sasuke and renowned heart throb over at Saint Third Academy. Too bad Itachi was no saint.

Technically Itachi had graduated from the academy and was attending Bellford University now but he still had a reputation at the academy. He also had a thing for younger boys.

"What business do you have with him? His shift is over, you're a bit too late," Naruto shook his head and looked at his watch. He hoped he was buying Neji a little time. Soon Itachi would get impatient and go look for Neji himself. Naruto was hoping it wouldn't come to that.

Neji was in his locker in two seconds grabbing his jacket and his backpack. He took the back door and jumped into the dark alleyway. He knew why Itachi had come all the way to this side of town. Sasuke made a bet with Itachi and had lost somehow. Which meant Neji belonged to his lover's brother for the remainder of the week.

Neji got pushed around enough by Sasuke, he had no idea what Itachi was going to do to him. There were no boundaries when the bet was placed. Therefore Itachi could do whatever he wanted to Neji and the Hyuuga had to comply, lest he feel the taste of Sasuke's fist against his jaw.

Hurry up Neji. God I know he's right behind me, I can feel it. He didn't know why he was running. The elder Uchiha would just find him in the halls the next day. He couldn't skip the entire week of school. Midterms were coming up and if he failed then he could kiss Bellford goodbye. He'd be a senior forever, not to mention what his uncle would do to him.

Neji took the long way around the building to the parking lot. It started raining on his way and he got soaked. He did he best to keep his hair under his jacket but it was no use. Th water dripped down his neck and into his jacket. His skin grew cold and he shivered, biting his lip as he ran.

Stepping over the last few boxes in the alley, Neji slipped in a puddle and fell forward on his face. He laid there for a second, his face in the muddy water and his body freezing. He lifted himself by pushing up on his arms but he fell again. His wrist was twisted and it stung as he used his other hand to get up.

He walked slowly holding his wrist with the most care. He could fell the bone slightly poking out the side. He thought he was going to easily push it back in place but the pain was just too much. He peeked around the wall of the alley and saw no one in the parking lot. He leaned against the wall and winced from the pain. He was going to take his chance now.

He tipped just off the wall and looked to see if anyone was behind him, then when he turned back around he ran into someone without noticing. He would have said something if he hadn't felt the sting of a needle in his neck. Coughing and losing his eyesight before he could get a look at the person, Neji's body went limp and he passed out, falling into his captor's arms.

"Where have you been all day?" Haku's voice was solemn and very meek. He was sitting with his legs crossed on a hotel bed when Gaara walked in with a sack thrown over his shoulder. He looked like he had been carrying it for a very long time. He tossed it on the floor and fell on the bed exhausted. His eyes were low and his heart was pounding.

"I brought you something," said Gaara, pulling his wet jacket and shirt off and tossing them on the floor. He rested his arms behind his head as he breathed in the air in the room. It smelled like old cigarettes and alcohol but it was all they could afford for now without making a scene.

"It must be nice if you actually carried it all the way over here." Haku leaned over on the bed, his long hair falling swiftly over his delicate shoulders. "Who is it? A female maybe?" Haku gently ran a hand over the sack and felt the bulk. He took a deep breath and stood up, pulling the dirty curtains back to look outside at the dark sky.

"I didn't kill anyone, Haku." Gaara sat up and put his head in his hands. He shook his wet hair and fingered through it.

"I never said you did. You must be feeling quite guilty about what you did to your family." His very feminine voice was still calm and inviting but serious. He turned around and smiled with his eyes closed. Gaara sighed and rubbed his eyes. He didn't know what to do anymore. They couldn't just keep running from the police.

"We need to get back in school, Gaara. Three months is far too long. I would like my diploma if you don't mind." Haku hopped back on the bed and laid next to Gaara. The redhead didn't seem to be listening but that was just his thing.

"Don't worry, I heard about some stupid prestigious Academy in the upper eastside of town. I'm sure you'll fit right in." Gaara half smiled to himself. Of course it was Haku's kind of setting and nothing like his. Pretty boys, uniforms, and rich people. But Gaara had seen someone very interesting he wanted to get to know.

"I suppose what's in that bag isn't someone I can play with then." Haku sighed. "Way to go. Rob a bank in the town I choose to live in." He turned over and closed his eyes. Gaara didn't say anything else. He was tired, finding money to get Haku in school hadn't been the easiest thing.

Neji was in the dark when he woke up from his drowsy state. He didn't know where he was but he knew he wasn't in his room or in a room that he knew either. He sat up and looked around but his eyes couldn't focus. He was still very dizzy and his head was throbbing. He felt a pain on the inside of his body that felt oddly familiar. He felt sticky and the room smelled of sex and drugs.

He sat up and tore the covers away from himself. He felt along the bed and touched the dampened mattress. He felt a sting grow through his body and then he could vaguely see images of something behind him, forcing him against he will. He covered his mouth and tried not to vomit all over the bed.

Last thing I remember was-

"Nice of you to join us, Neji." The voice was coming from the other side of the room. The lights clicked on and Neji's eyes widened in horror at who was standing on the other side of the room. Itachi was posted near the door of the room with his hand pressed firmly against the back of Sasuke's head, which was plastered to the wall.

The younger Uchiha looked like he'd had a rough night. His lip was busted and he had a cut just above his eye. He turned his head a little and looked at Neji. He was embarrassed and turned away again, closing his eyes.

Neji stayed calm where he was sitting but inside he was afraid. If Itachi would do that to his own brother then he could only imagine what would happen to him.

"Aren't you going to ask Sasuke what's happen to him?" Itachi cracked a smile and pulled Sasuke by the back of his shirt. He tossed the boy on the floor and Sasuke immediately got up. Neji got off the bed finally realizing he was covered in blood and semen. He stepped into his pants, careful not to irritate his body and stood behind Sasuke, holding on to the back of his shirt.

"What's going on?" Neji whispered. He clutched Sasuke tighter. Wrapping his arms around the boy's waist. Sasuke lightly touched his hands and turned around. He leaned forward and gently kissed Neji's lips. He pulled away from Neji's flush face and stepped back.

"I'm leaving you, "Sasuke said, moving closer to Itachi. Neji frowned and rubbed his forearm. It wasn't like Sasuke to sound so pathetic about anything. Neji watched him back up and into Itachi's arms. The Hyuuga had his mouth wide open as he watched Sasuke sort of smile and curl up into his brother intimately.

"Y-you're with him?" Neji pointed to Itachi and he could feel anger rising up inside him. He thought he would be relived to be getting away from Sasuke but this was too much for him. He bit his lip when he saw Itachi's eyebrow raise.

"Don't tell me you're in love with my brother Hyuuga." Itachi pushed Sasuke away from him and up against the wall near the door. He leaned close and Sasuke put his hand on his chest to push him away but Itachi tasted his lips quickly. Sasuke looked like he was shaking and his face wasn't doing a good job of hiding his embarrassment. He kissed Itachi back, but only for a second before he moved away from him and left the room, stumbling down the hallway of the house.

Neji thought he might be losing his mind. This was beyond him. This was gross and just wrong on all accounts. He glared at Itachi when he thought he saw the boy lick his lips. Neji was angry even though he didn't really wanna be with Sasuke anymore. In the back of Neji's mind he was breaking down though. He felt ill and his body felt weak. It hadn't occurred to him what it would feel like if he ever really did lose Sasuke.

Itachi began walking over to him, taking small steps with a grin so evil it made Neji cringe. The Hyuuga backed up into a wall and Itachi stood in front of him, running his fingers through the boy's hair.

"You did this to me?" Neji looked down at his pants that were stained. "You raped me." He bit his lip, afraid that Itachi might force him to do it again. He was already in enough pain and the older boy had stolen the only thing he had left since he had no pride or dignity.

"You should go before I have the urge to." Itachi's nose rubbed against the fine skin of Neji's neck and Neji fell nauseous. He quickly pushed Itachi away and walked around the room, picking up his belongings in shame while Itachi watched him closely. When Neji was done he stared at the other boy in horror. He'd known Itachi for a long time but he never imagined it would come to this.

He hurried and left the room. Passing Sasuke in the living room as he sat silently on the couch. Neji had no words for him as he left through the front door.

He stumbled home, no car, no jacket. He sniffled as he walked, half crying about his loss. He'd never felt so weak in his life. He felt played and somewhere in the back of his mind he knew this was only the beginning. He went to school with Sasuke, had his classes. There was no way they could avoid each other and Neji beamed at wanting to choke the boy.

He was on his street when he felt like someone was watching him. He turned around when he was standing under one of the streetlights. His feet hurt a lot and he knew his mind was probably playing tricks on him but he was sure he'd heard something. No one lived this far down the street but him. There would be no need for anyone to be walking. Someone was following him, he knew it but he continued walking because he just didn't care anymore. What was the worst that could happen, him getting raped? He doubted he would care.

But in the shadows someone was watching him, following him and his every move. He'd witnessed Neji's torture and was intrigued by how he still had the mobility to get home. Gaara didn't too much care but it was his fault Neji had been found unconscious behind the alley, practically naked.

Gaara would have had his way with the boy if the damn Uchiha hadn't showed up. He growled at his misfortune and turned to head back to his hotel. Haku would be worried.

Wednesday

Neji had been called to the office that morning but today he wasn't feeling very well. He could tell that he was feeling a bit depressed from the night he'd had. First Sasuke left him and then he found out the boy was entangled in the act of incest. It sickened him and he almost gagged as he walked down the hallway. Stepping into the office Neji spotted two students he didn't recognize but then again he hadn't been really paying attention to anyone lately.

He took one look at the redhead and turned his nose up immediately. He looked like a poor boy that had a scholarship to the school. Neji couldn't stand his type. But to his left sat a very frail boy, someone Neji would have had an attraction to if he wasn't so sick. He both to the both of them respectfully as he walked by.

Haku, who was astounded by Neji's beauty waved slowly. Gaara never looked up from where he was sitting. He felt out of place already and he wanted to rip Neji's head off for being so smug. He'd seen how Neji blew him off when he'd walked in. No matter though, Gaara was doing this for Haku and therefore he remained civil.

"Sir, may I ask of the two students outside your door?" Neji stepped into Orochimaru's office and closed the door gently behind him. He took a seat in front of the man and unloosened his tie. Damn thing had been choking for him the better part of the morning.

"Transfer students from a small town in the west. Interested?" Orochimaru asked, leaning forward just a bit. He licked his lips and when Neji just stared he sat back, pulling the drawer open.

"Neither are my type," Neji replied looking out he window behind his headmaster. "I know why you called me here Orochimaru-sama." Neji stood and walked towards the window, fixing his jacket and making it seem like he was having a decent type of day.

"Do you now? I was sure you had no idea why I wanted you of all students in my office before school hours." The man stood up as well, combing through his hair once and then clearing his throat. "I'm short a teacher and you know the material." Orochimaru said calmly.

"I can't possible teach a class if I'm not interested." Neji turned around quickly, the anger building up again. "I have plenty of things to worry about and I can't be stressed about teaching a bunch of snotty unprivileged kids. You understand."

"I do, Neji. If that's how you feel about the students of this academy then I will remind you that you still have 12 hours of community service to count for. I would appreciate it if you would take the two boys outside to the proper etiquette class you'll be teaching in five minutes." Orochimaru walked to his door and opened it.

"But I-"

"I don't have time to hear your buts nor do I have time to look at it." He joked and rubbed Neji the wrong way. "If you'll please come in now, boys," Orochimaru leaned out and called Gaara and Haku inside.

Walking in first, Gaara was hidden while Haku trailed after him, holding onto his shirt dangerously tight. Gaara didn't seem to notice as he walked in and looked at Neji for a second before he pried Haku off him and grabbed his hand firmly.

"Gaara, Haku this is Hyuuga Neji, your professor for etiquette." Orochimaru nodded to Neji so he would introduce himself but he stayed quiet. Merely bowing like he did outside the door earlier. He looked at the two boys and they're clasped hands. He figured Haku had made Gaara transfer so they could be together but that didn't affect him. He was tired of relationships for now.

"Hyuuga-san." Haku's voice was of course in a loving tone. Like he wanted to be nowhere but where he was standing right now.

"Please, it's Neji," he said. "If you'll follow me then." He walked passed his head master and glared. "This isn't over. I'll instruct the class for a week, no longer." Neji growled. He was already down the hall by the time Orochimaru stopped laughing.

"That's all I need." He shouted after Neji and the other two.

After the class was over Neji quickly exited the room, saying nothing to anyone. Gaara and Haku stopped mid hallway and stared at each other. Haku looked to his left and Gaara looked down the hall after Neji.

"The God's weren't generous with us. We only have two classes together." Haku looked down at the paper in his hand as he spoke. His tone was as soft as ever when he looked up at Gaara. The redhead had barely said a word all day, keeping his head down for most of his first class.

Haku patted Gaara on the head and said his good-byes as he skipped off. Gaara wanted little to do with the school. He wanted to skip his precious art class, it wouldn't kill him. All he wanted to do was strangle half the campus anyway. It would be safer if he were to just hide out until lunch but sadly he didn't even know where he was going to go. He growled as he walked down the flight of stairs and found his locker.

By coincidence Neji's locker was on the opposite side of the hall and he was cursing at himself in his mini mirror. He was trying to comb his hair but it was sticking up in some places and wouldn't work the way he wanted it to. Neji was so distracted he didn't noticed Sasuke standing behind him.

"This is still my locker," Sasuke said, touching Neji's shoulder.

"Sasuke, "the Hyuuga shivered and jerked away, grabbing his chest like he was going to have a heart attack. He righted himself when he felt he could stand straight. He quickly forgot about his fear and stepped up to Sasuke, touching his chest with one hand and lightly kissing his lips.

Sasuke waited there, like he wanted to continue but he eventually pushed away. He watched Neji closely before he turned his head away. Neji grew angry, he thought he was going to be able to win Sasuke back with a bit tenderness but it wasn't working.

"I know you didn't mean what you said, about leaving me." Neji looked shaken but his words were very smooth. "He just has too much control over you." Neji was hugging Sasuke within a second of his words. He didn't care what he'd seen the other night. Maybe he was falling in love with Sasuke. He didn't know what was wrong but he wanted the Uchiha back. It was his right to be happy.

"I mean everything I say," Sasuke responded, prying Neji off of him. "You don't know the entirety of the situation. It was my idea to be with him, not his." Sasuke opened the locker open wider and pulled one of his books out. "He's not controlling anything. That's just how I feel about him." He cleared his throat to scare of some of the eavesdroppers.

"You're just in denial!" Neji shouted, his eyes gradually watering. "He raped me," said Neji, quietly. "Don't you even care?" He saw Sasuke frown for a moment but the boy sort of just shrugged and closed the locker gently.

"He didn't rape you, that was me." Sasuke sighed. "If you would rather no one find out then fine. I won't say anything but you're on your own now." Sasuke leaned close to him and kissed his cheek. "I'll come by later and get my things." He bowed and started walking off. Neji couldn't stop him this time. He felt really alone in the halls but what could he do?

On the other side of the isle Gaara hadn't yet gotten his locker open. He was fighting with the combination but not so much that he cared. He didn't have anywhere to be anyway. He heard the little argument across the way and had watched a little, not that he cared or anything. Just enough reason for him to find some fun around school.

Neji watched Gaara fumbling with his locker. He hadn't said anything to the boy in class but Neji almost pitied him. In a –Sorry you don't fit in- sort of way. The redhead was just about his height with very livid skin. Neji had never seen his eyes but he bet they were paradise green with a hint of sky blue. All he'd seen so far was the dark makeup around the boy's eyes. But then again he didn't want to be that close to him. Or at least that's what he kept telling himself.

Giving up on the stupid locker Gaara slowly began to turn around, his head still low and his eyes staring off down the hall. He pretended not to notice Neji standing there and just started walking away. Neji held his books in his arms like a small schoolgirl as he watched the boy leave.

Gaara was halfway down the hall when he stopped and began to turn around. Neji got a small glimpse of him before he turned around and rushed off. Gaara of course made no sign that he actually cared in the least bit.

"I bet you five bucks he's a killer." Standing two feet away from his coe-worker, Naruto was pretending to wash the counters of the small coffeehouse he worked in. Neji rolled his eyes at Naruto. He was always jumping to conclusions. Neji didn't even know why he bothered with the blond. If it wasn't for his after school shift then he might not even know Naruto. They weren't exactly friends at school.

"Just look at him. He's been in here everyday this week," Naruto half pointed to a redhead sitting in the corner near the window. It was dark on his side of the café and he was wearing a hood with his bangs hanging over his eyes, same as everyday.

"You don't know what kind of life he has. Maybe he just prefers being by himself. Stop assuming things," Neji turned around and left the counter. It was almost closing time and he was going to leave early.

"Neji, could you lock up tonight. I'm out the door!" Naruto called. Neji didn't get to say two words edgewise before he heard the door close. He regretted the fact that he hadn't been listening to Naruto when he made all those comments about the redhead, because now Neji was alone in the coffeehouse with the killer.

Neji sighed as he walked over to the area where the tables were set up. He started flipping over the chairs as he wiped the tables up.

By the time he was finished he thought the mysterious guy would have left already but he hadn't. He was still sitting there drinking the organic apple juice he'd ordered over an hour ago.

"The coffeehouse is closing," said Neji, keeping his distance. He knew he was just about the same height as the guy so he prepared to fight back if he had to.

Neji cleared his throat to get the boy's attention but it wasn't working. He sighed when he walked over. It hadn't looked like it before but the boy's head was down and he was breathing easily.

Oh God, I hope he's not sleep. Neji lightly made his way to the table and tapped on it softly. "Excuse me," He said, quietly stepping back. The boy didn't answer but he did sit up. Neji was so startled he backed into one of the tables, knocking over the chairs. He quickly righted himself and coughed as he cleared his throat.

It was dark and the boy was staring at Neji but there was something the Hyuuga hadn't noticed when he'd took the boy's order earlier. He had cuts on his face and his eyes were low. Neji had been working all week but he hadn't seen the boy look this bad.

"I was just going," the boy said, raising his head. He pushed his chair back and stood, just a little taller than Neji was. The Hyuuga half squinted at him. There, in the dim light of the corner they both stood in, Neji saw those same eyes he imagined earlier. He took a step back and his head fell low.

Gaara looked rugged on the outside with his dark clothes and loner appeal but once Neji got a look at his eyes he thought he saw something different. The boy didn't seem so cold and heartless when Neji looked at him. His skin looked soft and his hair, the part Neji could see, seemed course but he bet it was delicate like his.

Glaring, Gaara didn't stand there very long. He began to leave shortly after he could sense that Neji was just plan old staring at him. His mouth was practically wide open.

"Wait," Neji called. Gaara stopped but he didn't turn around and Neji was at a loss for words. He bit on his nail and then tried to say something but there was nothing to be said. He should have just let the boy leave but then he would seem like an asshole for ignoring him when it was clear they knew each other.

"You're Gaara right?" Neji smacked himself. He didn't know why he was having so much trouble speaking. It wasn't like he cared about the guy or anything. He thought Gaara was going to ignore him but he slowly faced Neji and gave him a blank stare. As if to say, yeah, so.

Gaara wondered what was going on with him. Neji was almost too snobby in school but whenever Gaara came in the coffee shop, the boy was always so distant. Like he could never really stop worrying about the next day.

"We, uh go to school together." Neji tried to start fixing all the mistakes he was making. "I thought you might remember me." He sort of smiled but it was nothing special. Gaara wasn't really paying attention to him anymore. He could hear Neji talking but it was just like school. He didn't feel like listening.

"Idle chatter," Gaara began, "it doesn't fit you." He let his hood fall back and he finally stood straight up. He was very intimidating and Neji looked him up and down for a moment. He seemed to be growing used to the way Gaara presented himself.

"Look, I was just trying to be friendly." Which wasn't at all true. He really just felt obligated to say something to the boy. He always looked so sad and he was always alone. Neji knew how that was. Okay, so maybe he was trying to be a bit friendly. Maybe Gaara could appreciate some company.

"I don't need friends, " Gaara had Haku, he didn't need anyone else. Neji would just get in the way of his plans. What'd the Hyuuga care if he was friendless anyway? He was just some snotty rich kid who wasn't getting his way lately.

"What about Haku? You two seem pretty close." Neji hoped that maybe that would lighten the mood a little but Gaara's eye twitched and he didn't answer. "You're a prick aren't you?" Neji threw his towel over his shoulder and crossed his arms.

"That's my business." Gaara folded his arms as well and carried no expression on his face. Neji rolled his eyes and breathed deep.

"You come in here everyday and order the same thing. You sit in the same seat for hours and don't leave until someone closes. You look pitiful you know. I was only trying to help."

"No one has ever helped me, " Gaara threw on his hood and started heading for the door. "I'd like to keep it that way."

End Chapter

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Ciao
-Nik