Responsibility

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters

A/N
I know I know, i missed out on two weeks...sorry I've just been way too busy to write, and really, what i've been writing lately hasn't been anywhere near my best. So yeah, sorry :)

"...Why me?"

"Why not?"

"I don't do well with animals."

Shikamaru held out his pet cat at Neji, too lazy to try and shove it in his face.

"Troublesome. You have Lee on your team, right? A lazy cat shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Neji looked at the cat in Shikamaru's hands as it looked back at him, with eyes not too different to its owner's.

"I don't know what to do with him."

Shikamaru shrugged. "Tenten might."

Neji sighed. "You're sure there's no one else who can take care of him while you're gone?"

Shikamaru took that as a yes, carelessly passing the cat to Neji.

"Ino and Chouji are with me for this one, and Hinata is with Sakura elsewhere. That leaves the idiot Naruto, who I wouldn't trust with a pet rock, and Kiba. You remember the last time Akamaru saw Neko."

Neji closed his eyes, but decided to give up trying to put him off. "What do I feed him?"

Shikamaru smirked in thanks, before walking off.

"Just put down a bowl of milk. He'll be too lazy to drink it up anyway."

–

She had been playing with the cat for a good hour, just rubbing his stomach while it purred.

"I can't believe you actually went with it," Tenten said, happy to see Neji's warm side.

"He left me little choice," Neji said with a slightly frustrated tone.

She got up and walked over to Neji, before sitting back down. "Well, it's good for you anyway."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

She lifted a finger and pointed it up. "Responsibility," Tenten replied with a happy face. It amazed Neji how she always seemed to be in an expressive mood. It was what drew him to her.

At least, when she wasn't expressing anger.

"I am responsible enough, Tenten. After all, I wouldn't be leader for nothing."

Tenten shrugged. "Maybe, but doesn't mean that can't be improved. Especially for later on in life."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning it won't just be taking care of a cat for about a month, not when you want to settle down for a little bit."

Neji just looked out the window, unaffected by what she said.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, it may still be a long time until that day comes, but what if you wanted to have a family? I know I do, and that takes a whole different level of responsibility to making up strategies in battle."

She was right. A kid would be different to an assassination plan.

Only that Neji wasn't too fond of kids, and he figured at some point they could be the same thing.

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," he replied.

Tenten sighed softly. "Suit yourself, I guess I'll be the one taking care of Shikamaru's pet, right, Neko?"

She turned around, only to find that the cat was no longer where she had left it.

"Neko?" She got up and started looking around, a bit of panic in her voice after a couple of minutes.

Neji shook his head, before using his byakugan to find him.

Calmly, he walked over to a hidden corner the cat had found itself in, showing Tenten that he was fine.

"Maybe it's you who needs to learn responsibility," Neji said jokingly, before returning to the couch, cat on his lap.

Tenten looked at him and smiled. Yeah, you'll make a good dad.

She walked over to him and smacked him on the head, before sitting down and laying her own on his shoulder, carefully stroking the back of the sleeping pet.

"Cheater."

End.