A/N: Right. So. As much as I am usually against high school AUs, I have to be a hypocrite for this occasion as the idea for this story crept up on me, held me at gunpoint, and threatened to drive me insane if I didn't write it down. It's more lighthearted than the summary implies, and not nearly as chaotic either hehe. Also, I'm new to teh whole submit-story-to-internets deal *because I was born in the stone ages when the only internet you got was when the fishing nets got tangles in the seaweed* so I apologize if I've done anything wrong...

Disclaimer (are these even necessary?): Not myne. But it will be...oh yes...it will be...

Promise Kiss

-1. New School plus a Stranger-

Neji's ever-present scowl deepened as a catcall whistled at him as he walked past.

"Damned hooligans," he muttered under his breath. Besides him, Hiashi frowned.

"I was assured that this school bred top-quality students," he said. Neji scoffed quietly, visibly annoyed at the young men who were walking past, all staring at him as though they'd never seen a Hyuuga before.

"This is ridiculous," said Neji irritably as another catcall sounded his way, "I don't see why I can't simply stay at the complex."

"Look, this cannot be helped. I have enough responsibilities as it is with my company, the family, and two daughters to look after without having to worry about what my nephew gets up to on a daily basis. Besides, this is the best school in the country; you have no reason to complain. I'm sure you'll make friends in no time," said Hiashi as they approached the reception desk. Neji simply scowled at the ground as Hiashi filled in documents and signed forms. Several minutes later, Neji was left in front of his dormitory as Hiashi drove off without a backwards glance.

The Hyuuga sighed. At least it was true that this school was the best, and most expensive, all male private boarding school in the country. The common rooms of the student quarters looked more like a five-star hotel.

Neji opened the door to his dorm, and was relieved to see that nobody was inside. There were six queen-sized poster beds spread evenly across the huge room, each with dark red velvet curtains neatly pulled back and a small end-table besides each bed. There were six polished wooden desks across from each bed, and a double locker-sized closet besides each desk. Nobody else seemed to have arrived yet. It was the beginning of the second semester, and Neji was starting what was supposed to be his fourth year of high school. However, because he was previously home-tutored, he was not looking forward to meeting his fellow roommates, who no doubt already knew each other, and the high school system, fairly well.

Neji placed his suitcase on the bed closest to the door before pulling out a book and finding a secluded area out on the lawns. The few people who passed by stared at him with puzzled looks on their faces, unable to decide whether he was a boy or girl, but the afternoon remained eventless. A bell rang inside, calling the school for supper. Neji sighed and left his spot, following the crowds of students heading towards the dining hall, ignoring the mystified and sometimes hungry looks that the boys were sending him.

Neji had asked if he could cut his hair, seeing as he was no longer living in the Hyuuga complex and therefore should not be forced to follow silly Hyuuga traditions, but Hiashi had adamantly denied him this, claiming that even though he was not living there, he was still a Hyuuga, and had to behave, and look as such. Now he had to put up with an institute full of horny teenaged boys thinking he was a girl. It didn't matter how classy this place was, boys would be boys, and Neji feared that his feminine looks was going to get somebody in trouble.

"Hello nee-chan, are you lost?" asked a leering voice behind him.

"I'll take you where you want to go," sneered another.

"I'll take you anywhere, including from behind," said yet another, catching onto his friend's pun.

"Come on, guys, act civilized for once. Ask her out on a date first," laughed one of them.

"Hey wait up, I want you to be my girlfriend!" said the first voice. Neji steeled himself and ignored the taunts, trying his best not to lose his temper. "Come on, pretty-lady! Don't ignore me, you'll hurt my feelings," the voice continued. Although it was easy to irritate him, Neji rarely lost his cool, but the day's events had been grating on his nerves, and as pissed off as he was, he feared for the speaker's physical well-being. When a hand landed on his butt and started squeezing, however, Neji's thinly stretched patience finally snapped. He spun around, grabbed the speaker by the wrist, and threw him over his shoulder in a judo-flip, before wordlessly walking on; a dark look on his face, ignoring the new stares that were being directed his way and the groan of pain from the boy lying on his back on the floor.

Proper social conduct forgotten, he stormed into the dining hall, grabbed whatever food was being served, and sat at the first empty table he could find before propping his elbows on the table and burying his face in his palms, trying to calm his nerves before he broke something.

"Bad day?" asked a voice behind him. Neji braced himself for another snarky remark, and blinked at his soup when none came. The speaker simply put his tray down across from Neji and started eating in silence. Neji glanced up at the boy sitting across from him. He was effortlessly good-looking, with tanned skin and dark hair, perhaps shoulder length, but presently tied up into a tight ponytail at the back of his head. He was plainly dressed in a shirt and jeans, and a simple chain ran around his neck and into his shirt. One hand was holding a spoon that was feeding soup to a pair of thin but soft lips, the other grasping a book that he was reading with a bored expression on his face. Neji sighed softly and felt, to his surprise, his day's irritation fading away the longer he sat with the impassive boy. He didn't bother replying, as he figured it was just a question out of politeness rather than concern, as they ate their meal in silence.

"Ano sa, Shika, how come you get to sit with the pretty new kid and not get beaten up?" a new voice interrupted the tranquil setting.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said the boy called Shika, not looking up from his book. The new arrival sat down in an empty seat and stared at Neji curiously. The boy had spiky blond hair and innocent blue eyes, and Neji couldn't help liking the kid, despite his rude question. However, Neji ignored him, secretly wishing he would either go away, or stop staring.

"Didn't you see it? Kiba got his ass handed to him when he tried to grope the karate-kid," said the blonde, taking a big bite out of the chicken on his plate.

"Hm," said the other boy, turning a page in his book.

"I suppose Kiba deserved it, the perve," said the blonde, ignoring the other boy's unenthusiastic reply, "Plus he was hanging out with those reject music students," he rambled on. Then his stare was directed back at Neji, "Still, you can't blame him. This kid really is pretty, huh?" he said. Neji scowled lightly, but decided to continue to ignore the situation. However, the tanned boy chose to look up from his book for the first time and directed his languid gaze carefully at Neji; causing the paler boys cheeks to turn a faint shade of pink.

"Yes," the tanned boy eventually said before looking back down at his book. This comment caused both Neji and the blonde boy to stare.

"Did you just…?" said the blonde, apparently flabbergasted. However, the other boy merely shrugged and continued reading.

Neji couldn't understand why he suddenly felt flattered. People had always commented about how pretty he was, and usually, Neji tended to feel insulted, the compliments flipping around and falling flat on the Hyuuga's pride. However, somehow, hearing this calm boy saying it felt so casually genuine that Neji struggled to contain the pleased blush that he was horrified to find appearing on his face when he caught a glimpse of himself on the back of a highly polished spoon. Neji scowled at himself and mentally berated his silliness.

"Where is Sasuke?" the tanned boy asked briskly a moment later.

"Probably discussing studying methods with Shino or something boring like that," shrugged the blonde, "Why?"

"Just wondering why you're here," mumbled the tanned boy, turning another page in his book. Neji couldn't help but be impressed by how he was able to concentrate on reading, talking, and eating all at the same time.

"Oh you know, I…," the blonde boy began, but then his eyes narrowed, "wait a minute I know what you're doing…," he said accusingly.

"I'm not doing anything," said the tanned boy.

"You're trying to get rid of me! You want pretty-new-kid all to yourself and I'm in your way! Fine, I can take a hint! I'll leave you to your romanticizing, lover boy!" said the blonde huffily, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, "But knowing you, you probably haven't even introduced yourself or anything. Well, good luck. You'll need it," he said loudly as he grabbed his tray and stormed off.

A brief moment of awkward silence fell on the two remaining people at the table before the tanned boy sighed wearily and shut his book with a soft thump.

"Troublesome kid," he mumbled, putting his book away. Then he suddenly looked straight up into Neji's eyes and tilted his head lazily to one side.

"What is it?" asked Neji nervously.

"Nara, Shikamaru," he said.

"Neji."

"You're a Hyuuga," said Shikamaru, causing Neji to look up in surprise.

"How…?" he asked.

"Your eyes. They give a lot away," said Shikamaru, his lips curling into a faint smile when Neji blushed delicately at the ambiguity of the statement.

"I suppose the hair, too," Neji muttered, looking away from Shikamaru's disconcertingly perceptive gaze.

"Mm," was the last thing that was said before the two finished their meal in silence.