Please don't forget to read part A of chapter 4.

Chapter 4, Part B, "A box of chocolate and fresh flowers"

Sasuke bent down kissing the bruises on Neji's back softly, feeling the other wince. Another tinge of guilt surged through his veins. He really cared for Neji. Maybe even loved him. Not passionate love. He hated to put it this way, but he had grown attached to Neji because the boy was there when needed.

"Do you think it'll scar?" The Hyuga mumbled. "I have too many scars as it is."

Is that all he can think about? The raven kissed the other's shoulder intently, "Probably not. The skin is barely broken."

"Sasuke..."

"Yes," he kissed the sore flesh again.

"Wh-why did- How is Naruto now?"

"Fine, I should go there soon," he coughed.

"Oh, you can't stay with me tonight?"

"He needs-"

"Can I go with you?"

The raven frowned, "And how am I going to explain you being there?"

"Just a friend."

"He will be attending our school Neji. I don't think your uncle will be very happy to hear that you have a boyfr-"

"I know, Sasuke, I know. You don't have to keep reminding me."

"Then stop needing a reminder," the raven spat harshly, getting off the bed.

Neji stared at his back tears almost slipping out, "Jerk."

The Uchiha turned around glaring, but he softened his look when he noticed the hurt expression. I am horrible...

"It hurts! Is it too much to be with the only person I care about for one night?"

"..."

"Sasuke!"

"..."

"Forget about him... I am your boyfriend. I am your priority."

"Don't be childish. He needs help."

"So do I-"

"That's called being needy."

Tightening his jaw, Neji's expression got colder. He stood up, putting his shirt on.

"Are you leaving?"

He didn't answer; instead he just walked out of the room heading for the door. He waited for a second hoping that the raven would chase after him. He fuddled with the doorknob wishing he could be the stony everyone saw, when he was around Sasuke. He wished he hadn't been dropping his defenses around the other forcing it to become a habit.

"I am leaving," he whispered.

"Okay," he heard a soft hurt voice answer him back. Sasuke stood by his room's door, looking away. Losing Neji wasn't easy. He was taking Neji for granted, he was selfish, and he was definitely a bastard. But it still hurt losing and hurting the other.

"Sh-should," Neji closed his eyes feeling the last of his ego and pride burn at the pit of his stomach. "Should I c-"

"Yes, you should come over tomorrow," Sasuke answered pressing his hands on the door, as they bordered Neji. He nuzzled the other's cheek, leaving a peck.

Neji let his back press against Sasuke's chest, taking comfort in the other's gesture. Sasuke was cold, but these rare intimate acts that always kept Neji hanging.

The raven glanced at the watch around his wrist. Naruto...

When he refocused on Neji, the young man was explaining, "He is going to hit me again... I wasn't supposed to leave... I w-want to be with you."

"Stay here," the word escaped him again.

"I can't. He would murder me the next time he sees m-"

"He doesn't need to see you again."

Neji backed away eyes wide open, "S-Sasuke, what are you saying?"

"Move in with me."

The other's mouth gapped for a few times not knowing what to say. Sasuke couldn't really be asking him that. No way, weren't they just fighting a few minutes earlier? Plus, he could never afford his tuition or supporting himself. It was just not possible. Not possible!

Then it hit him. It was Sasuke Uchiha who had just asked him to move in. Sasuke would never rush into something without figuring the ins and outs. Who else was more worthy of trust than the prodigy he had loved for years, he figured. After all, if he would cross his uncle this once, he wouldn't be stranded with only Sasuke as wall to lean on.

If only he knew that the raven was slipping into a mess he couldn't possibly handle. A an old grand-mothers' tale told that if a man would return to a wife he usually ignored with a box of chocolate and her favorite flowers, he either cheated or was about to.

- To be continued-

Any thoughts?