Note: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 01 – Tape 01
March 11
"Gods, I want a smoke..."
Shikamaru sighed and leaned against the back of the couch. Then he reached up a hand, pushed a forlorn hair out of his face and stood up, rubbing his palms against his pants while making his way to the window.
Opening the window he breathed in the scent of the forest. The Nara-forest always smelled best in Spring, with everything blooming and often damp with remains of morning-fog or afternoon-rain.
With a sigh he leaned against the window-sill for a moment, rubbing his palms against his pants again. He then traced his upper-lip with his tongue and made his way back to the couch again.
The moment he sat down he slumped against the back of the couch, raising his eyes and looking straight into the lens of the video camera.
The red light was burning happily.
"Hi Neji," he said and waved weakly and dropped his hand into his lap, sighing. He looked to the side before turning back to the camera, frowning slightly. "Do you know how troublesome this is?"
When the door was nudged open slightly he turned his head. He allowed a small smile to come to his lips when he saw Neji's and his white-and-orange striped cat called Luca walk up to him, nudging his leg with a loud purr, wanting attention.
He leaned forward, lifted a mewing Luca from the ground and, sitting cross-legged, put her down into his lap. Gently patting her head he looked at the camera again. "How long have we been going out?" He asked, but he didn't really need to ask.
He knew.
He looked at the lens almost accusingly. "Eight years, Neji. Eight years and we have an apartment and we even adopted a cat..." A sigh passed his lips and he shook his head. "And if it wasn't for that troublesome thing I wouldn't even be doing this."
He kept on petting Luca's head, whose purrs got louder and louder. Neji had found her on the streets one day, when coming home from a mission. And while he had always been able to deny Neji some things in life, Neji holding up a kitten wasn't something he could say no to.
They'd lived together for the past four years and life was good. They were happy, their cat was happy and about a month ago they'd even – however awkwardly – brought up the topic of marriage. On top of that, missions were scarce which gave them more time together. And time together was always appreciated.
Luca mewed and Shikamaru looked down at the cat, grinning suddenly. "It's troublesome, but I have to say it." He murmured softly.
He picked up Luca, held her so she was right next to his head and smiled widely at the camera. "Troublesome Neji Hyuuga, we love you."