A/N: I've been feeling Neji/Ino SO MUCH lately and I felt really inspired to write a nice, fluffy one-shot because later down the road, I want to do a serious fic in the ninja realm. But I wanted to give you guys something fun since the Neji/Ino tag lacks some good substance! ESPECIALLY rated M! Which this story will become eventually~

I'm planning on doing a multi-shot! So review and let me know what you think and I'll get that next chapter out quickly! I want to know if you guys enjoy this or not!

Polish Sheepdog

When the bells above the door jingled, Neji had to stop himself from scowling.

Five months he had been working in this Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Paw, and it had only taken him a week to despise the sound of the annoying ringing that occurred every time a customer came through that door.

Neji Hyuuga couldn't tell you one specific reason that had made him apply to veterinary school. He had neither an extreme love for animals nor a childhood trauma that filled him with a burning need to save animals (i.e. Naruto, the other vet in the building). Instead, in his usual lack-luster way, his cousin had suggested the career and he had pursued it because he could. Simple.

The part he hadn't suspected—hadn't even thought of—was the shedding. Whenever a customer came in, he was either left covered in dog hair or cat hair. When he first started, he would constantly be picking the little hairs off his scrubs until eventually he started buying white scrubs. He used to wear his hair in a loose ponytail until a month ago he looked at his brush and saw all the white, animal hair stuck in the bristles. He had even started getting his hands manicured when the jagged parts of his nails had started snagging on pieces when he was examining animals.

So, yes, Neji could endure the cat pee, the dog shit, and everything in between. But, he could not stand the hair.

Then, that's why it was no surprise to him when the sound of bells set him into a mood. The customers who came in to get their animals groomed (which irrevocably resulted in hair getting everywhere) used only that door. The customers who would brush their animals in the waiting room only used that door.

Neji fucking hated that door.

But, when the uptight vet turned and spotted the short, blonde hair, he tensed for a whole new reason.

Standing in the doorway, Ino smiled dazzlingly at Neji from across the room, seeming to ignore the "fuck-off air" everyone said he had. She was dressed smartly in dark jeans and a loose graphic t-shirt. Her normally side-swept bands were clipped off her forehead and Neji realized for the first time how her ice-blue eyes always seemed to find his ivory ones first. The ends of her bobbed, straight hair brushed against sun-kissed shoulders an-

Clearing his throat, Neji turned back to the desk before his eyes could linger further and gathered up the papers he had been waiting on to print.

Behind him, Ino loudly announced her presence, saying hello to everyone she passed as she made her way to the counter. She always did the same thing: greeting everyone, gossiping with the clerks, and then finally seeking out his company—if he was free. Then he would spend the most awkward (and exciting) fifteen minutes of his life trying to decide if all the flirty comments the enticing blonde was throwing his way were sincere or playful. If the way she leaned into his space was intimate or casual. If the fucking way she did that thing where she bites her bottom lip and stares up at him through her lashes was a silent invitation or just...something else!

Readying himself internally, Neji tried to appear as casual as he could while Ino walked up next to him. Like he couldn't feel the heat of her body when she brushed against his lab coat or smell the perfume she wore.

"Hi, Sasuke! Appointment at two?" Neji could practically hear the smile in her voice. Neji never hated Sasuke as much as he did in that moment.

And it must have showed, because Sasuke shot the disgruntled Hyuuga an amused smirk before he got up and walked towards the side computer where they logged all their appointments.

Neji watched Ino from his peripherals as she turned towards him. She ran her eyes over his body before smiling saucily.

"Hello, Hyuuga." She never called him by his first name unless they were alone and the implications of that thought made Neji feel a bit light-headed.

"Ino," He replied, finally turning towards her. His indifferent mask was perfected and none of his previous thoughts showed on his face.

So, imagine Ino's glee (because he felt it was obviously her life's mission to unhinge him) when his eyes widened at the sight of the Polish Sheepdog panting at her knees. The mangy dog was covered in grains of dirt and blades of grass. His fur was hanging heavily over his body and Neji internally shuddered at just how much of it there was. Ino's smile only seemed to get brighter.

"Oh, this is Max! He's my latest client!" She laid a hand on top of the dog's head, patting him affectionately.

Neji nodded in reply, "Yes, well. It was a wise decision to bring him in for grooming."

Ino laughed as if he had made some joke and now her hand was patting him. Well, his arm.

"Oh, I see someone is feeling funny today! I'm looking forward to our chat even more now." Neji's body naturally tensed at the way she said chat.

Suddenly, the dog at her feet seemed to be drawn in by something and he made a mad dash for whatever it was, causing the leash in Ino's body to jerk with the force. Neji was surprised at the strength the young woman possessed, as she was able to struggle evenly with the dog and was wrestling him back into place.

But, during the whole process, Neji watched in deeply-rooted appreciation as the shirt started to slide down Ino's shoulders. Her sun-kissed shoulders were now fully on display and he gulped at the sight of a mole, centered near her collarbone. What he wouldn't do for a chanc-

Neji tried to force his eyes away, he really did. However, the shirt also began to gape in the front and now Neji had a wonderful view of creamy, cleavage goodness and no past lessons of respect and propriety could make him turn away from that. Better yet, Ino wasn't even wearing a bra and he swore he was losing his breath at the thought of something else being exposed.

Luckily for his sanity, the dog finally relented and listened to Ino, plopping back into place. And Sasuke returned, telling Ino that the groomer was ready and waiting for Max to come into the back.

Ino hastily thanked Sasuke and the dark-haired male resumed his previous seat, returning to his work.

Her hand smoothed down messy, platinum locks and Neji saw a flash of the purple on her nails. She smiled effortlessly at him, a light sigh showing her disappointment at their interrupted conversation.

"Your office in five? I brought a new tea flavor" She let the last word hang in the air teasingly.

Neji swallowed at painfully dry throat—caused by earlier's distraction—and nodded once. "That will be acceptable."

Ino sent him a wink—one he tensed at—and turned to lead the dog to a groomer. Next to him, Sasuke laughed mockingly and finally stopped pretending to do his work. He was smirking when he turned to Neji.

"So, Ino huh?" Sasuke asked teasingly with a raised eyebrow. "I'm impressed."

Neji merely grunted in response before heading back to his office. Now, after the almost-full image of Ino's chest, he would have to sit in his cramped office with her alone, knowing she wasn't wearing a bra.

Neji fucking loved that door.

Omake

When Ino finally got home that night, that's when she let herself relive the interaction with the handsome vet today. His eyes had been glued to her and, if he didn't see her as a women already, he definitely did now. Ino wondered idly if she might have flashed more than she planned, but found that she didn't care.

Neji was a private person and a complete gentleman. She was thankful for the latter if she did actually flash him her bits, but found she couldn't stand that personality trait the other half of the times.

She had been sending him signals for months and all the fool had done was stare indifferently back at her. The only things reassuring her that he actually might be interested were the rare times where his façade would crack and she got to see the heated expressions cross his face when she did something he liked.

Grinning wildly, Ino slipped out of her clothes and threw on a big, comfy shirt before flopping on her bed. She grabbed the Cosmo sitting on her bedside table and flipped back to the page she had marked.

"How to crack the Silent Type," she murmured out loud before laughing. Cosmo really did say some smart shit once in a while.