Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this fic are Masashi Kishimoto's except for some random passers-by.
Summary: Neji has this hobby he does not want anybody to find out. Unfortunately for him, Shikamaru comes into the picture. ShikaNeji
A/N: Mugicha is cold barley tea usually drank in summer with ice, yukata is a summer kimono.
This chapter feels kinda funny now that I think about it. But it's vital for the story so...
A knock comes from Neji's foor, then Ten-Ten's soft question: "Neji, are you there?"
"A minute", Neji answers and quickly goes to grab a shirt of some kind. Even though he and Ten-Ten are team mates and very close to each other, Neji still does not feel very comfortable hanging around without a shirt in the presence of her.
"Sorry, did I come in a bad time", Ten-Ten apologizes as she comes in.
"No, I was all ready…" Neji let's Ten-Ten in and pours her a cup of mugicha. They sit around the table sipping their drink in a comfortable silence for a moment before Ten-Ten opens her mouth.
"Could you help me?"
"With what kind of thing?"
"Nothing much. I'm gonna buy a new yukata today, I though maybe you could come and help me with the colour choice."
"Does my opinion matter that much?"
"You have good taste in yukatas", Ten-Ten tells and drinks the rest of her tea. "Otherwise I would've taken Lee with me to carry it, but I need good taste more than muscles so I came to you." She goes to the sink to rinse her cup. "Will you come?"
"You know I can't leave a lady without help…" Neji sighs. In fact, he likes shopping for clothes with his female friends, he just will never say it out loud, because it is not male at all. "Let's go."
"I knew I could trust you, Neji!" Ten-Ten rejoices over her new yukata. She glombs Neji so forcefully he almost drops the bag full of light green and white fabric.
"Yes, I know I'm the best, but you're suffocating me…"
"Oh, sorry." Ten-Ten laughs embarrassedly. "I'm just so happy. My old yukata is completely worn out and it wasn't nearly as beautiful as this is."
"Did you buy it for the summer festival?" Neji asks as they head down the street, not really knowing where they are going.
"Of course, where else. Are you going?"
"I don't know…"
"You have to!" Ten-Ten yelps ans grabs Neji's arm. "Sorry, I'm crushing you again. But you have to come. Why wouldn't you?"
Neji blushes slightly and turns away. "I just… don't…"
"Don't what? You don't have anyone to go with?"
"…"
"Me neither, don't worry", Ten-Ten laughs softly. "Have you thought of anyone?"
"…" Neji lets out a sound than can be translated as anything.
"I have someone… Oh, Shikamaru!"
Neji amost swallows his tongue as Ten-Ten suddenly shouts out 'Shikamaru'. And really, there he is, walking to them from crossroads, hands casually in his pockets, as handsome as ever.
'Dammit, what can I do? He saw Shinju just a few days ago… Dammit.'
"Morning", Shikamaru says and nods to them. "Shopping?"
"Yes, new yukata for the summer festival. I hope you are going?"
"Yeah, of course…"
Ten-Ten blushes slightly. "Shikamaru, would you... would you come with me to the festival? Even as friends is okay", she hurries to add as Shikamaru turns to look at her with his dark eyes.
"Yeah, I will, but just as friends, sorry. I don't want to lift up any of your hopes for nothing." Shikamaru smiles softly to Ten-ten's surprised face. "I'm gay", he blurts out.
"Oh." Ten-Ten blushes even more, surprised of this sudden information. Truth to be told, Ten-Ten could have never thought Shikamaru to be gay. Neji of course, but never Shikamaru... "Well... I'm glad we can go even as friends."
"Me too. It's nice to have someone to go with", Shikamaru says and looks at Neji.
Neji turns his gaze away and hopes that Shikamaru does not recognize him as the girl he saw a few days ago. But of course, that must be too much to ask. Damn fate.
"Maybe we could go with a a big group. The more the better", Ten-Ten says, smiling softly at Shikamaru. "Would it be okay with you?"
"Yeah, sure", Shikamaru answers and looks at Ten-Ten again as Neji avoids his eyes. "I'll ask my friends if they'll come."
"That'd be great", Ten-Ten says.
"Ten-Ten, sorry to interrupt you but I'm in a hurry..." Neji stops her, eager to get away from Shikamaru.
"Well then, Shikamaru, I'll see you later", Ten-Ten says as she steps to Neji's side again to get going. "Let's talk about details later, ok?"
"Ok. See ya."
"Bye then."
Neji only waves quickly at Shikamaru to not look too suspicious. Then he starts walking away from Shikamaru, Ten-Ten holding his other hand and the bag with the yukata on the other.
Shikamaru stares long after them, wondering about Neji's strange actions. There is only one sensible reason why Neji acted like they didn't know each other well.
He must be homophobic.
