Neji's POV
Walking side by side with his cousins, Neji got closer to the school building. He took a look at the youngest girl, Hanabi, who was extremely anxious for her first day of class. He escorted her to her grade, like he always did when she went to preschool. After waving her goodbye, he looked at his other cousin, Hanabi's sister, the shy and kind Hinata. She stared back at him, and after a tiny smile, they headed to their own classroom.
They were in the same class, even though Neji was one year older. That was because, after his wife's death nine years ago, Hinata's father, his uncle, thought his two daughters needed more contention. And almost at the same time, for a difference of only weeks, Neji's parents had both died in a car accident. Fortunately he hadn't been there with them, but he became a lonely orphan of just eight years old. When this happened, he had been taken by his uncle into his house, and the man had devotedly took care of him and tried to make him feel at home. Thinking that it would be good for both of them to have each other's company, the man had made Neji go back one year, so he could be in Hinata's class.
He didn't mind about that. He liked his cousin, and besides, otherwise he wouldn't have met his best friend Tenten. They were very different, but at the same time, had great sintony. They had share a double desk since he arrived to the class for the first time, when the rest of the kids were six. They became friends immediately, though Neji was really shy. Thankfully the little girl definitely wasn't.
The two cousins entered the High School edifice and went directly to their classroom. Neji immediately noticed Tenten sitting over her desk and chating with Lee. Around them were all his classmates, some enthusiastic for the return to class, others definitely not. Sakura and Ino talked cheerfully, while Naruto and Kiba were teasing at each other, as they always did. Shino was silent close to them, same as Sasuke, who never really talked to anyone. Sai had a sketchbook over his legs and was scribbling some drawings. Finally, in the last double bank next to the window, Choji ate a bag of chips with a big smile, while the lax body of his friend Shikamaru lay deep sleep over his desk.
Neji had known all this people for a long time, although he didn't have much relation with most of them. In exception of Tenten, Lee and his cousin, he wasn't very close to anyone. Not that he minded. He had never really cared for having friends. If Tenten haven't practically stolk him to become friends with her and Lee, he would've never talk to them.
-Sooo, back in the old school. -his friend said, while he sat in his chair next to her. -What's new? -
-Nothing out of the ordinary. -he answered. -You?
They chatted until the first teacher arrived. The class started normally, and the rest of the morning went by as usually, with Naruto interrupting at any moment with silly jokes, Sakura responding to all the questions with great enthusiasm, and Shikamaru still unconscious in his seat. With the passing of the hours, it seemed like it was going to be a standard year. Or at least that's what he thought that first day.
After classes were finished, Neji didn't go home immediately. Passed the last ring of the bell, the extracurricular activities began. That was when the sport teams went to practice and the different clubs had their meetings. The students that were yet in school were mostly in the football camp, where they trained, or in several classrooms, where they would start with their year calendar. Neji had walked into a particular rehearsal room that was pretty far away from the main building, near the basketball court and the showers. He liked that one specially because it had an enormous mirror all along one of its walls, besides from a stereo where he could connect his cellphone and play music. It was designed for those who studied dance and theater, so they could practice in a suitable space. Neji had checked the schedules of each activity, so he knew when it was free for him to use it. He liked to be alone and quiet, to be able to get a better concentration.
Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he put his hands and legs in first position, and repeated the plié. He had put his uniform in his backpack and replaced it with a black short and a long and loose white shirt, and he had picked up his hair with a clip so it wouldn't bother him. He had been waiting to return to school during all vacations only to have a comfortable place to rehearse his dance techniques. Since he was only four years old, he had practiced ballet. His mother had been a ballerina when she was young, and she liked teaching his little son what she knew. At seeing that he had actually very good conditions for it, and that he also enjoyed learning, she had decided to send him to an academy, were he had gotten better and better with every lesson. After his parents died in that terrible accident, he didn't abandoned it. Working with his body relaxed him, and the great discipline needed in ballet helped him distract his mind, by concentrating only in performing the figures to perfection. Besides, it made him remind of his mother, who he always missed. With the passing of years, he had participated in almost every school sport with amazing results, because he was very athletic. But he had never spent more than two or three semesters in each team. Dancing was the only activity he had never dropped. And he had extended his reach to other genders, besides from ballet. Every new rhythm that seemed interesting for him, he tried it. But classic dance was his pillar. He just felt secure performing every precise move.
He had been there for almost sixty minutes, repeating his usual routine in silence. He was determined to stay for another hour, and maybe then practice with some music. He looked at his rotated feet, making sure that they were in the exact right place, and did the plié once more. But suddenly, an unexpected voice that came from behind him made him lose his concentration.
-That looks painful. -it said.
Neji startled, but miraculously kept his balance. He lifted his head and looked into the mirror, to find that at his back, the slacky figure of a young boy had appeared. He immediately recognized him: the loose posture, the high ponytail and the sleepy expression, couldn't belong to anyone else. Shikamaru Nara was boderly staring at him, while he supported himself in the doorframe, with his hands in his pockets. Even though he used the same uniform as the rest of their classmates, he always looked a little different. Maybe it was because of his clear disheveled appearance: his pants were a few numbers larger than they should be, so they were wider than the reglementary size. His white shirt was half outside his belt, and unbuttoned until below his collarbone. The knot of his dark red tie was low and sloppy. The Hyuuga met his black eyes on the reflection.
Despite the fact that they had attended to the same class for years, they had never shared much. He couldn't actually remember the last time they had exchanged words. It was weird that the Nara had stopped there to talk to him, having no obligation to do it. Neji realized he had took too much time to answer, and finally straightened and responded to the mirror:
-Is not.
The lazy boy just rose an eyebrow, showing that he didn't find that credible, so the Hyuuga added:
-Once you get used to it. -Seeing that the boy didn't go away, he turned around to face him. -What are you still doing in school?
-I just came out of Chess club. -the Nara answered lazily.
Neji thought for a few seconds.
-There's a Chess club? -he asked, not knowing what to say.
Shikamaru shrugged.
-Well, you can barely call it a club. -he explained, not moving from the doorframe. -It's just profesor Asuma and me. Guess he expected to have more interested students.
-He must be disappointed. -was Neji's retort.
-He doesn't lose hope. -the boy said. -Didn't know you danced.
He didn't know what to answer to that, so he simply shrugged a little.
-I do. -he replied.
Shikamaru took a look around the room with no much interest, and asked him:
-You practice many sports, don't you?
-Not so many… -Neji hesitated shily.
-Really? -the Nara went on. -Weren't you in the swimming team, the athletics team, the fencing team, the ...?
-Yes. -the Hyuuga interrupted him. -How do you know all that?
The slacky boy shrugged once more.
-It's not a secret. -he simply said.
-Right. -Neji agreed. -I will probably do only dance this time. This year subjects are very demanding.
He just threw that in order to add something. He had yet no idea of what the boy was doing there.
-If you say so. -the Nara told him boredly. -Well, I'll get going. Good luck with your dancing.
After this, he separated himself from the door frame and disappeared behind the wall. Neji looked at the place where he had been seconds ago for some brief moments, thinking that that had been a very unexpected conversation. Finally, he turned to the mirror again and continued with his practice.
At the next day, he repeated the same routine: he got off the bus with his cousins, escorted little Hanabi to her grade, and then walked with Hinata to their classroom. Inside, his companions chatted and waited for the teacher like the previous day, except for certain Nara, who was already slept over his desk. The first professor arrived, and the class started normally.
-All right, kids. -teacher Tsunade said. She dictated Anatomy, and her explanations were very good, though she was a bit tough. -Today we will start with muscles. Open your books in... Mr. Nara! You had the whole holidays to sleep! Would you please pay attention?
Neji didn't turned around, but he heard the drowsy voice of Shikamaru mumbling something like "I wasn't sleeping", although he obviously was. Some of their classmates laughed, and the class continued.
The morning went by without inconveniences. At lunch, Neji sat in the cafeteria with Tenten and Lee, as he always did. But he found himself watching at Shikamaru from his seat. The boy was eating with his friends Shino, Kiba, Naruto and Choji a few tables away from where he was. The Hyuuga studied his permanently bored face, wondering why he always looked so drowsy. He was actually surprised that the guy hadn't repeated a year, because he spent most part of all classes sleeping over his desk. He wondered how could he pass the exams if he never payed attention nor participated. Neji was a good student, but only because he studied hard. It was needed constancy to be updated with homework, and he asked himself how the Nara could managed it with so little effort. The teachers were all the time scolding him and sending him to detention for being sleeping, but apparently he did enough to not be reproved.
Neji shook his head to dissipate those thoughts away, and concentrated in his friends conversation.
After afternoon classes, he would've wanted to practiced his ballet positions again, but they already had math homework, so he decided to go back to his house. He had made a quick stop in the bathrooms, and was washing his hands when three people entered.
-Hey, Hyuuga. How have your vacations been?
The person that had asked that question was Nikko Hashimoto, a junior boy from a higher grade. He was the captain of the hokey team, and though he wasn't very bright -he had actually repeated a year-, he was among the most popular kids in school. In part because he was tall and blond and strong. But mostly, because he was an asshole. He didn't cared that Neji was just a sophomore, he didn't mind messing with every person that wasn't in his select group of friends. He had two gorillas that followed him wherever he went, and celebrated all his evil pranks. He was the classic high school bolly. Neji knew he was there to harass him like always.
-As if you cared. -the Hyuuga answered, keeping his hands under the water stream.
He sensed the three hughe boys surrounding him, but he didn't flinched.
-That's not the proper way to address your elders, Hyuuga. -Nikko said with malice.
Neji rolled his eyes, not willing to be intimidated.
-You are one year older than me, Hashimoto. -he just replied.
-Right. -the blond agreed. -I had forgotten that you went back a year when your parents died. Poor little Hyuuga.
He decided that the best thing to do was getting away from them immediately, so he turned around and faced the three guys.
-I don't need your pity. -he said firmly. -Now, please move, I have to go.
He tried to walk between them, but Nikko put a hand on his chest and push him back. Neji hit the lavatory, and an intense pain spread through his back.
-I didn't say you could go. -the big bully spat.
One of his sidekicks took the Hyuuga's backpack and tore it off his shoulders. He tried to get it back, but was pushed again with more force. They didn't find anything of value among his things, so they threw the backpack aside and got closer to him with a threatening look.
-Empty your pockets, Hyuuga. -Nikko ordered. -Let's see what you have.
But Neji didn't do it. He just held his stare and tightened his lips.
-Big mistake. -the gigant said, and strongly grabbed him from his wrist.
Neji felt fear, and sensed his breathing starting to accelerate. He could already see himself with his head immersed in one of the toilets. Being one against three, he had no way out of there.
But luckily, a sudden interruption saved him.
-You shouldn't do that. -a dragged voice sounded at the door.
The four boys turned their heads, and saw Shikamaru standing in the entrance, with his hands in his pockets and his eternal dull expression.
-Why not? -Nikko asked, fulminating the Nara with his eyes. -Are you gonna stop us?
The lazy boy exhaled air from his nose in a slacky laugh.
-As if I could. -he answered. -But professor Morino is just coming down the hall. He will be glad to have an excuse to suspend anyone.
The older boys shared a concerned look. Ibiki Morino was the most strict of all the professors, and he loved giving punishments to naughty students. Nobody dared to cross him.
Finally, Nikko let go Neji's wrist, no without throwing a last threat to him between his teeth:
-You were lucky today. But we'll see you soon.
After that, the gang leaved the bathroom. Shikamaru earned a push when they passed next to him, but he didn't react at all. When he saw they were gone, he approached to Neji, who was now breathing with great difficulty.
-Are you okay? -the Nara asked, stopping a few steps away.
Neji nodded, but he was panting hard. The anxiety had took all the air from off his lungs. He felt himself panicking and closed his eyes, rising a hand to his chest.
-Hyuuga? -Shikamaru called him with concern, but he couldn't answer. -Neji!
He perceived the Nara getting closer to him, and tried to opened his eyes.
-I'm... fine... -he said, almost choking.
-Are you kidding me? -Shikamaru questioned, pretty alarmed. -You're not breathing!
-I just need... -the Hyuuga tried to speak, but finally just pointed to his backpack, which was still lying on the floor.
The Nara looked at it and went to grab it. Then he looked at Neji, specting that he would tell him what to do.
-Left... pocket... -the older boy managed to utter.
Shikamaru opened the zipper and pull out what was inside. It was an inhalator. Obviously understanding the situation, the hastened to give it to Neji.
The Hyuuga took it and quickly put it in his mouth, pressing it and letting the medicine help him regain his composure. They stood in silence for a minute, while he calmed down.
-Are you all right? -the Nara asked again.
-Yes. -Neji answered. -Thank you.
He could feel the other boy's eyes studying him.
-Didn't knew you were asthmatic. -he said.
The Hyuuga finally rose his stare and looked at him.
-It only happens when I get nervous. -he replied. -Where's professor Morino?
-That was a lie. -the Nara told him. -He wasn't even near.
-Oh. -he Hyuuga responded, realizing that his classmate had just got him out of a bad situation with a simple trick. -Thank you for that.
-It's okay. But maybe you should go to the infirmary.
Neji shook his head and straightened, showing that he was all right.
-That's not necessary. I'm fine. -he affirmed.
Shikamaru just stared at him for a little longer. Then, he commented:
-If you only get like this when you are nervous, then you're not asthmatic.
-What? -the Hyuuga asked, not understanding.
-I mean, it's psychological. -the Nara explained himself. -Were you born with asthma?
Neji was surprised of how fast the boy had figured out his condition.
-No. -he confessed. -It started after my parents died.
-There you go, then. -Shikamaru said putting his hands in his pockets, but still watching him carefully.
-Yes, well, anyway... -the Hyuuga replied. -Thank you again. But I must go already.
The Nara nodded.
-Sure. I'll walk you out. -he affirmed, and they both started heading to the door.
-You don't have to do that. -Neji assured him.
-It's fine. -Shikamaru told him. -I was leaving too.
They walked until they got to the sidewalk and stopped.
-I better take the bus quickly. -the Hyuuga said. -I must start with the math homework.
-Riiiight, the homework. -the younger boy answered lazily.
Neji stared at him, noticing that he didn't seem willing to do it.
-Are you not doing it? -he asked.
Shikamaru scratched his head.
-I don't know... Maybe. -he replied.
The Hyuuga looked at him surprised.
-How is that you never do any homework? -he questioned him.
The boy shrugged.
-It's a drag. -he said. -We spend almost the whole day in school. They can't expect that we keep working at home. That's torture.
Neji smiled a little at that.
-Are you not exaggerating a little? You don't work too hard in class, after all.
-Hey, it's already a big effort to come every morning. -the boy defended himself, and gave the Hyuuga an innocent grin.
They stared at each other in silence for a few moments. He didn't like to be helped much, and he hated looking week in front of others. But for some reason, he was grateful that it had been Shikamaru and not another person who had seen him like that. He felt like the boy would keep the secret.
-Well, I let you go do your beloved homework. -the younger guy finally said, starting to walk away. -See you tomorrow, Hyuuga.
-See you tomorrow, Nara. -Neji answered, and headed to the bus stop.
Once again, when he arrived to school at the next early morning, Shikamaru was already completely unconscious over his desk. Neji had to repress an amused smile at seeing him. For some reason, during the whole night he kept remembering the brief conversations he had had with the Nara recently. He forced himself to concentrate on his homework, and that distracted him for a little while. But just momentarily. He only stopped thinking when he fall asleep. But in the exact moment he opened his eyes again, everything came back to his mind.
He didn't know why that was happening to him, and tried as hard as he could to not drive conclusions. He thanked Shikamaru was sleeping, because at least it assured him he wouldn't have to interact with him.
Everything went just normally. He worked with Tenten in the teachers activities and they finished all the day assignments, as usual. When lunch time came, he had already successfully dissipated all those weird thoughts. Although he caught a glance of the Nara eating with his friends not far away, he was able to ignore it and behaved as he always did.
That day he was decided to rehearsal his steps again. After spending all holidays practicing in his tiny room, he was eager for some space. So when the classes finished, he went directly to the big saloon.
He took his uniform off, after checking that nobody was near, and put on his black short and his large white t-shirt. He let his shoes next to his backpack, but kept his socks on. Finally, he tied his hair in a high ponytail that hung down his back, and started stretching.
When he considered he was ready to go, he placed himself in front of the mirror and put his arms and feet in the preparatory position. Then he switched to first, and then to second, and then to third, and he went on, repeating the sequence again and again.
It hadn't passed five minutes, when a sleepy voice sounded at his back.
-Hey.
Shikamaru was standing in the doorframe again with his hands in his pockets. Though he wasn't leaning against it this time. He was looking directly into Neji's reflection with a barely there smile. The Hyuuga turned around to stared at the real boy.
-Hi. -he greeted back.
-Practicing again? -the Nara asked lightly.
Wasn't that obvious?, he thought.
-Yes. -he answered. Judging by the hour, Shikamaru should be attending to a extracurricular activity, or go home. There was no other reason to stay in school. -Are you going to Chess club?
-Not today. -the taller kid replied. -Actually I'm escaping from Ino. She's looking for me to drag me to go shopping. And I really don't want to. -he made a few steps inside the large room. -Do you mind if I hide here for a while? I won't bother you.
Neji widened his eyes, definitely not prepared for that question. But he couldn't find a reasonable negative. So he shrugged a little and just responded:
-Sure.
-Great. -the Nara exclaimed with a half smile, and walked to a pile of sport mattresses. He threw his backpack to the floor and sat there, putting one arm behind his head and leaning his back against the wall. -Don't get distracted by me, I'm not here.
The Hyuuga was surprised and confused. No one never saw him practice, besides from other students at the academy. But there was really nothing weird in it. So he decided to no make a big deal about it, and turned to the mirror again to repeated his steps.
He did the sequence many times again, adding more movements. He was trying not to look at Shikamaru, but at one particular moment his eyes just flew to the boy, and were surprised to find big concentration. The Nara wasn't missing one single step. He was putin all his attention in every detail: Neji's feet, Neji's knees, Neji's arms, Neji's hands. His expression was serious and calmed.
The Hyuuga kept following the younger boy's eyes watching him in the mirror for about fifteen minutes. He didn't seemed aware of Neji's stare. But suddenly, he broke the silence.
-What is that? -he asked, looking bored and curious simultaneously.
The Hyuga stopped and rose his eyebrows.
-What? -he questioned.
-That thing you do with your feet, when put them like this. -Shikamaru said, joining his arms as if they were legs to explain himself. -Does it have a name?
Neji thought for a moment. Then, he accommodated his feet.
-This? -he asked.
-Yeah. -the Nara responded. -It's bizarre.
The Hyuuga couldn't help to let out a little laugh at that comment.
-I guess. -he answered. -It's called fifth position.
Shikamaru frowned and titled his head.
-"Fifth?" -he repeated.
Neji smiled.
-Yes. -he explained. -In ballet you have first, second, third, fourth and fifth position.
The Nara widened his eyes.
-Ballet has numbers? -he interrogated, incredulous.
The Hyuuga laughed once more.
-Yes. Every movement in ballet is made from a combination between the arms and feet of each positions and others steps.
The lazy boy rose his eyes to the ceiling, meditating the answer.
-So you are telling me -he started. -that ballet is some kind of numerical constant with many variables?
Neji thought about that for a second. It was a strange, but not wrong way of seeing it.
-Something like that. -he agreed.
Shikamaru immediately stood up and started walking towards him.
-It suddenly got interesting. -he said smiling. He stopped just a few steps away from the Hyuuga and looked at him. -How does it goes?
Neji stared at him in complete surprise, and he couldn't help but to smile a little too.
-Why? -he asked amused. -Do you want to learn how to dance?
The Nara let out an exhalation through his nose in a lazy laugh.
-Absolutely not. -he answered, putting his hands in his pockets. -But I like knowing things that most people don't. And the numbers in ballet sounds like a very specific and uncommon knowledge.
The Hyuuga narrowed his eyes, suspicious. At realizing he was doubting, the younger boy insisted:
-C'mon, I want to know. Please share your wisdom with me. -he begged with an expression than Neji thought was kind of cute.
The Hyuuga laughed softly at his request, and finally decided to accept.
-Okay. -he said. -Pay attention. -He placed his feet and arms in the correct posture, and explained: -This is first position. -Then, he changed to the next one. -This is second position…
And like that, he showed Shikamaru the five figures. The boy was following every movement with great focus, as if he was memorizing them. Neji didn't understand how could he be so curious about anything regarding dancing, but it was nice to have someone interested in something he liked so much.
When he finished the explanation, the Nara suported his weight in one of his legs, and questioned:
-And how do you combine that to form something?
-Well, you can take just any ballet figure, like this one, for example. -He put one leg behind the other, considerably separated, and rose his arms. -This is the second arabesque. You do it with your feet in fourth position and your arms in third, and then you just lift your leg a little.
With great delicacy and control, he took off his back foot from the floor and maintained his balance. Shikamaru observed him with attention.
-"Arabesque"? -he questioned.
Neji lowered his feet again.
-Yes. The names of ballet movements are in french. -he explained.
-So ballet is french? -the Nara kept interrogating.
-I believe it's italian, but was professionalized in France. -he added.
-I see. And they invented it stealing from the Arabs. -Shikamaru affirmed.
That he didn't expected.
-What? -the Hyuuga asked. -Why do you think that?
The younger boy shrugged.
-Well, "arabesque" literally means "in an arabic way". And it really looks pretty arabic. -he clarified.
Neji couldn't hide that he was a little stunned.
-You speak french? -he wanted to know.
-Just a little. -the Nara answered. -Show me another.
He seemed really interested, so Neji happily conceded. He spent the next hour naming and performing different moves of ballet, with the other boy standing near him, watching and commenting almost everything that passed throug his head.
-It's so strange. -he said in one moment. -Do you necessarily have to tollatly twist your legs like that? Sometimes it looks like you're gonna dislocate a bone or something.
The Hyuuga laughed openly. He had to admit he was having fun.
-You mean this? -he asked, stretching on leg forward and rotating it without moving the rest of his body.
-Yeah, that... -Shikamaru confirmed with an expression of pain.
Neji chuckled, and explained:
-It's called rotation. It's fundamental in ballet. It's supposed to allow a grater extension of the legs.
The younger boy studied the Hyuugas leg for long seconds, and he realized he didn't mind it at all. He felt, somehow, comfortable.
He didn't interrupted Shikamaru's stare, and waited patiently. Finally, the Nara nodded slowly, and smiled.
-Interesting. -he said.
Time went by unnoticed. The conversation was light and pleasant. He was about to show his viewer another step when the fierce face of Ino appeared at the door.
-Finally! -she screamed, walking with determination to them. -You sneaky bastard! You knew I would never look for you in here. Your hide and seek took me almost two hours!
Shikamaru sank his head between his shoulders.
-I wasn't hiding. -he excused himself. -I was just here. Didn't know you were looking for me.
The girl stopped a few inches away from him and retorted, clearly annoyed:
-You have to help me find the right outfit for my date, rebember? -then she made a sad face. -It's very very important!
The Nara lowered his shoulders and whined.
-But what can I possibly say about girls clothes? -he asked. -Use something of what you already have.
Apparently that was inadmissible for Ino.
-Impossible. Now move your ass. -she ordered. -Or the mall will close. Bye Neji! -she added with a smile, and turned to left the room with great decision. -Let's go!
Shikamaru watched her go for a moment, defeated and deflated. There was absolutely no whiling of following her in him. But he must had no choice, because he looked at Neji, and shrugged.
-Well, I can't escape anymore. I'll have to go. -he said.
The Hyuuga had witnessed the whole scene in silence, and he gave the Nara a pitty smile.
-I'm sorry. -he told him compassionately for having to bear with Ino's shopping.
The taller boy clicked his tongue.
-It's okay. At least I delayed it a little. -he answered, and then slowly started to turned around. -I guess I'll see you tomorrow.
-Right. Goodbye, Nara. -Neji said.
Suddenly, their eyes connected in a strange and unknown way. It only lasted a few seconds, but the sensation that it caused on the Hyuuga's chest made him a little dizzy. It was like a brief, shared thought. Like a simultaneous awareness of each other. Shikamaru smiled softly with a completely unconscious seduction that shocked Neji without warning.
-Goodbye, Hyuuga. -the younger boy murmured, before breaking their stare and leave the room with his usual lazy step.
When he entered to the classroom with his cousin the next day, Shikamaru wasn't sleeping. He was laying back in his chair with his legs over the desk, listening to Kiba talk to him with a very tired expression, but not asleep. When Neji approached his seat, the Nara met his eyes from the bottom of the room. Acting normally, the Hyuuga diverted his stare and turned to sit on his place.
The truth was that he had been remembering Shikamaru's soft and relaxed laugh all night. The boy's twisted smile wouldn't leave his mind. And the strange way his black eyes had nailed on Neji's ones still gave him chills.
This thoughts had him confused and a little alarmed. But when he remembered how he had felt when they were talking about ballet in the rehearsal room, so comfortable and at ease, he relaxed. He was just not used to opened himself to people out of his circle of trust.
He convinced himself of being overreacting. After all, they had only had a couple of conversations, and there was nothing strange in that. The guy was simply friendlier than he expected. He was probably just being nice at asking him about his dancing, because it was very hard for Neji to believe that he was actually interested.
But to his surprise, during the next week, Shikamaru returned to the rehearsal room once more. Most of the time he had just laid in the pile of sport mattress, watching the Hyuuga practice. But sometimes, he asked a question about what he was seeing. Apparently he couldn't contain his curiosity.
Neji was amazed about how he felt in those moments: it didn't bother him at all, and the company was nice. He used to spend a lot of time by himself, and that was a fine change.
He even felt a little disappointed when, on the friday of the second week of classes, the Nara didn't showed up. For some reason, he was expecting to see him one last time before the weekend. At noticing that he wasn't arriving, he kept practicing until the school closed. When the janitor came to tell him that it was time to leave, he took his backpack and left the building.
It was passed seven, so he had lost the last bus to his house. He lived about 20 blocks away, so he decided to started walking, though he wasn't going to get home before night. He took the path that surrounded the river, because he found pleasant to watch the waters. When the sun begun to hide, the first stars appeared. Neji was enjoying the warm wind moving his ponytail as he walked, when a figure standing behind the coast railing made him stop.
Despite the faint light, he recognized it immediately: Shikamaru was staring at the almost completely dark sky with his hands in his pockets, and he hadn't noticed him yet. The Hyuuga thought for a moment: he could easily cross the street and avoid him, but just saying hi wasn't going to hurt anyone. Finally, he crossed the distance between them and stopped a few steps behind the Nara.
-Hi. -he greeted.
The boy looked over his shoulder, but when he saw Neji he turned around completely and smiled faintly.
-Hey. -he saluted back.
They stared at each other for brief seconds, and then the Hyuuga got closer to stand next to him.
-What are you doing? -he asked.
Shikamaru turned again, so they were now both facing the river.
-Nothing, really. -he answered. -Sometimes I just come here and watch the sky. There's less light than in other places, so the stars look pretty good.
Neji looked at the river flowing in front of them.
-Yes, it's nice here. -he agreed. -I come sometimes too, when I want to be alone. It's soothing.
Shikamaru nooded, but he seemed to meditate those last words, because he questioned:
-You like solitude, hum?
The Hyuuga hesitated for a moment.
-I do. -he admitted. -But it's not like I have many friends anyway, besides Lee and Tenten.
-I don't know why is that. -the taller boy said.
-Well, most people don't like me much. -he continued. -Maybe because I'm not very friendly.
Shikamaru titled his head back.
-That's not true. -he affirmed.
The Hyuuga just gave him a look that showed that it was, and the other boy shrugged before responding:
-I like you.
Neji widened his eyes at hearing that.
-You do? -he asked.
The Nara smiled and rose an eyebrow at his evident surprise.
-Sure. Why wouldn't I?
-I don't know. -he answered. -We had never talk much before.
Shikamaru leaned against the railing.
-Yeah, well. -he replied. -I'm not very good at socializing. Human relations are a mystery to me.
The Hyuuga let out a light laugh, and looked at the night sky.
-I have the same problem. -he said.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, and it was pleasant. But suddenly, he realized that the younger boy had his eyes nailed on his. He turned his head slowly.
-What? -he asked.
Shikamaru startled a little, but kept his relaxed expression.
-What what? -he questioned.
-You are staring at me. -Neji answered.
Apparently the Nara didn't expected that, but he didn't diverted his eyes. He just made a twisted smile and said:
-I'm sorry. It's just that, your eyes...
The Hyuuga frowned, not understanding.
-What about them?
Shikamaru kept watching him for a little longer.
-Well... they're full of stars, and cosmic dust. -he finally responded.
-What? -Neji asked, amused.
The Nara shook his head.
-I mean, they're reflecting the stars… And they're kind of,... cloudy or something, -he tried to explain himself, with a hint of embarrassment, but and then studied him again. -They look like globular clusters.
That was a weird thing to say, but he was curious about the reference, so he interrogated:
-What are globular clusters?
-They are very massive cumulus of stars that orbit a galactic center, and are held together by gravity. -the boy clarified. -Like this. -Then he took his cell phone out of his pocket and showed it to Neji. His wallpaper was a bright, colorful, dusty starry sky. -This is your eyes right now.
The Hyuuga smiled at the image. If that was a compliment, it was very nice, and original.
-That's pretty. -he commented.
Shikamaru smiled back and nodded, putting his cellphone in his pocket again.
-Anyway, -he finally said. -What were you doing here?
-I was just returning home. -Neji answered. -And I should get going. It's getting late and I still have several blocks to go.
-I can take you, if you want. -the Nara offered.
The older boy stared at him, confused.
-In what? -he asked.
Shikamaru exhaled a relaxed laugh, and pulled a set of keys from his pocket.
-In a car, genius. -he said, as he turned the alarm of a near vehicule off and started walking towards it.
-You drive? -the Hyuuga questioned. -But you don't have the legal age for that yet.
-I know. -the boy answered, opening the car's door. -But my mom got me a special permission to do it. I have to be able to drive, in case my dad needs a ride.
Neji thought it was odd that an adult would need to be transported around.
-He doesn't drive? -he questioned, approaching to the car.
-Nop. -was Shikamaru's simple replied. -Jump in. -he added, while he sat behind the steering wheel.
The Hyuuga got in the passenger seat, and let the younger boy took him home, indicating him the correct path.
When they got to his house entrance, a big iron gate opened automatically, and Neji told his classmate to go forward. They crossed the enormous garden until a majestic house appeared in front of them.
-Holy shit! -the Nara exclaimed. -This is where you live?
The Hyuuga nodded slowly.
-Yes. My uncle has a very important publishing house. -he explained. -He's pretty wealthy.
Amazed, Shikamaru kept driving and stopped before the house's big door. Neji got off the car, and was about to say goodbye when his uncle voice sounded behind him.
-I was starting to get worried. -the man said, standing in the doorframe.
-I'm sorry, uncle. -the boy excused himself. -I lost the bus. But a classmate brought me.
At seeing the older man, the Nara got off the car too and inclined his head to him.
-Good night, sir. -he saluted respectfully.
Hiashi made a few steps outside the house.
-Hello. -he responded kindly. -Thank you for bringing my nephew home.
-Yes. Thank you, Shikamaru. -Neji agreed, realizing that it was the first time he called the boy by his name.
The Nara waved a hand at him.
-No problem. -he answered. -I better go home now. My mother must be wondering where I am too. I'll see you tomorrow. -he said looking at Neji, and then turned his face to his uncle. -Good night, sir.
Then he got in the car again and drove away.
The younger Hyuuga turned to look at his uncle, who simply smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder, while they both entered the house.
Hi everyone! Welcome to my new story!
I don't know if you'll like it, but I do, and I wanted to share it with you. I know I haven't finished the other one, I'm sorry! I will not abandon it, but I've had the images if this fic in my head for a while and I needed to take them out.
You'll find many similarities to my other fic. Like that Shikamaru is a complete genius, that he likes Astronomy and so. I just can't help it, because is the way I see him in my mind. Actually, I just realized there's a very similar scene to one in my other fic regarding Neji's eyes. I'm sorry for that, but it's already written O.o So this is basically a story about the same characters in another scenario, with just little differences.
Also, there will probably be some music too. I'll try to do longer chapters to make the plot more fluid.
Hope you enjoy the first two chapters, and let me know is you have any critique!
See you!