Neji and Ino: Milk Bath

By kiwi4me

Summary: He never liked teasing and jokes, but maybe he'd try it. After all, she started it.

"Good work, you are dismissed," Tsunade said with a wave of her hand.

"Hai," they both bowed and walked out.

"Oi," the blonde called out as the pale eyed male walked a little faster than he normally would.

"Hey," she tried again jogging up to catch up to him.

"What do you want," the question was filled with anger and Ino paused.

He turned his icy eyes to her.

"Come on Neji," she offered a smile, "… I was only joking."

"I do not joke Yamanaka," Ino felt nervous.

"Fine," she sighed, "… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it."

He didn't say anything but the quick turn and quick steps told her otherwise. He wanted nothing to do with her. She ran her hand through her bang.

Did she go too far?

Nah, he was just over exaggerating. It was an innocent act; that was all. The more she tells herself that, the wider her smile becomes.

"Neji," Ino questioned quietly with wide eyes, "… are you going to hurt me?"

There was a scowl on his face before he let go of her arm not to lightly. She smiled softly before a grin was in place. He turned away from her and stood.

"I'll take watch, go to bed," he took a step forward.

"But Neji," she said softly against his back.

The tension was so evident that she felt like she was hugging a tree. She frowned at that thought.

"Yamanaka," his voice was stern and Ino smiled.

"Hyuga?" she questioned playfully.

"Go to bed," it was an order, Ino laughed inwardly.

"Only if you go with me," she said stubbornly not letting him go.

"What are you doing?" she could hear the curiosity in the question and it startled her.

"Trying to get you into bed," she whispered seductively against the curve of his ear.

He turned slowly eyeing her suspiciously. She still had her smile on unwavering under his questioning gaze. It was half true. He was badly poisoned and still needed rest. Then again she wouldn't mind cozying up next to a warm body, especially a sexy body like his.

"We are mission partners," he reminded her holding onto his suspicion.

"So we help one another out," the curve of her lips lifted, "... you can't tell me you don't want to, could you?"

"What has gotten into you?" Ino noted the change of subject.

"The tingles in my tummy," she grinned.

"You're hungry," his face turned stoic again as he folded his arms.

"Nope," she shook her head and inwardly frowned. Was he this oblivious or was he trying to avoid it?

"You know," she started again, "… when you were pass out lying on the floor so beautifully," Ino touched his arms, "… they showed up," she looked away, "… it was hard fighting off three big men and making sure you didn't die," she aimed sparkly eyes at him, "… can't you see all I need is you Neji-kun?" she pressed her body against his, "… I need you," she whispered again wrapping her arms around his body.

He wasn't tensed. He wasn't anything. He didn't hold her in return; he didn't attempt to sooth her. She looked at him to catch his eyes staring at her.

The Byakugan.

'Damn…'

Why couldn't he take a joke? Well, in all honesty she really did mean what she said. She needed him one way or the other. He was her mission partner. Something more would be a plus in her eyes. She sighed and walked away. If he was going to act like a child, then there was nothing she could do about it.

-o-o-

He felt the tree rumble against the pressure, but he continued. The dent grew bigger and bigger causing the tree to slant tiredly away from the attack.

He was weak.

He was hit by poison and failed in protecting his partner. He left her to finish alone. He scowled. He should've seen it coming. He shouldn't have let himself lose his guard that way.

What was wrong with him?

One last punch and he stopped. The leaves were falling off the tree around him making the tree bare. He took deep breathes to steady himself. He soon sat down against the tree with his back straight.

Meditating, he will not fail again. Never.

-o-o-

"It went a lot faster than I thought," she breathed with a smile.

She looked to him and he didn't say anything. She frowned. Was he just going to ignore her forever? Over what, something like a joke? She turned away from him. It doesn't matter. The mission was a success and she could get back to a nice hot bath. Milk bath.

Her thoughts went to him.

Maybe a little bit of joy needs to be passed around? She glanced at him again as they continued their stride home. She rolled her eyes with a pout, never mind. He was just so anal. He was stoic just like…

She stopped herself.

She glanced over at the male once again and stopped. Was he like him? Was he as smooth as that bastard? Her eyes narrowed. Yes quite possibly he was. She went down the lists: strong(check), smart(check), prodigy(check), handsome(check), a jerk… (a definite check).

"Why did you stop?" it was more of a statement coming from him and she shrugged.

"Was just comparing you," she said nonchalantly as she started walking.

Whether he was interested or not, he didn't say.

Their walk was quiet and Ino liked the silence, but only for so long. She begins to hum and soon stopped seeing the narrowed eyes aimed her way. She started snapping which earned a glare.

"Neji…" she started still staring before her.

"Hm," he breathed and Ino's eyes twitched.

"You could just say yes instead of hm…" she complained with a scowl.

"Hm," a smirk was on his face as she turned to glance at him.

She paused.

"No!" she cried sadly with her hands to her head, "… no way…"

"Are you hurt?" there was concern on his voice and Ino lightened up. She was just over exaggerating.

"Aw, you care," she smiled happily.

"Were you joking… again?" he dared with narrowed eyes.

"Oi," Ino frowned sadly, "… why do you have to act like that?"

"I told you already," he said starting to leave, "… I do not joke."

"So much alike…" she mumbled bitterly.

"I wasn't joking," she sighed placing a hand on her forehead, "… I hate seeing him in you…" she paused, "… and the other way around."

"Who?" he questioned noticing this subject was bothering the blonde.

He cared. Was it hard to believe?

"You don't want to know," she sighed looking away, but her eyes snapped back to him feeling his hand on her wrist.

"Tell me," it was a soft demand and she wanted to push away the thought, but it was blaring at her.

"Sasuke," she said softly thinking he was going to break.

"Am I like him?" he dared staring at her intently as his face inched closer.

Ino winced slightly from the pain he was putting on her wrist. Inwardly she was screaming 'hell yeah' but she knew he would probably break her bones. Then again, she never backed down from a fight. She knew she was stubborn as hell.

"Twins," she sounded solid and she saw a hint of disappointment cross his pale eyes.

"I will never betray my home," she smirked at his statement.

"That's what he said," she didn't know why, but something was telling her stopping here and now would be far enough.

"He didn't care for his teammates, I do," her smirked widen.

"Neh, Neji-kun," she said softly, "… are you saying you care about me?"

"You already know the answer," he leaned back releasing her wrist only to find her taking a step closer.

"Could it be more?" her voice ghosted over his chin.

Does she want something more? He never thought of her as anything more than comrades. Actually, he thought everyone as that. His mind stopped when he felt her pressed against him. He mentally noted how blue her eyes were and the many lashes that bordered her eye.

He pushed her gently off him not missing the large grin over her face.

He hated her teasing and her jokes.