a/n: Hey everyone! So thanks to all of my readers and reviews for this story; I'm glad that you're all enjoying it so far! No warnings for this chapter: some KakaIru moments, some ShikaTema, some Shikaneji, some Orosasu and all kinds of pairings…as well as Naruto being a moody teenager who doesn't vent his feelings in the nicest of ways. Enjoy!

Chapter Three

The next day, Neji dropped in by the sickbay to check on Iruka again. To his surprise, he found Kakashi wearily keeping vigil by Iruka's bedside.

"Kakashi! How long have you been sitting there?"

Kakashi swayed slightly in his seat, but didn't respond. Neji wheeled on the nurses in a fury. "And you just let him sit there for two days straight without getting any rest?" Neji shook his head and crouched down by Kakashi's side. "Kakashi, you can't stay like this forever. Get some rest; Iruka will be safe in the hands of the palace staff."

Kakashi blearily shook his head. "Have to stay by his side," he rasped.

"You can sleep in the bed right next to him," Neji promised quietly. "You just need to get some sleep is all."

Kakashi considered Neji's proposition for a minute. "I guess some rest wouldn't hurt…" he mumbled, and yawned.

"Exactly." Neji chivvied Kakashi out of his chair and in to the hospital bed beside Iruka's. He helped the older man lay down, and then tucked the sheets around him.

"Wake me in an hour," Kakashi yawned. "Promise."

"Hm," Neji responded noncommittally. The moment Kakashi's eyes drifted shut, he leveled an icy look at the nurses. "Don't wake him in an hour," he scowled. "Understand?"

"Of course, Neji." Temari, a busty young woman with spiky blond hair stepped forward. "We'll make sure he gets rested and fed."

"Thank you." Neji knew he could trust Temari; she was a confident, capable young woman and looked to have a promising career as a palace physician. "Now…how is Iruka? Is he doing alright?"

"Sasuke and Orochimaru have been coming every couple of hours and check on him. They told us that he just needs rest, as they delivered an antidote to whatever he'd ingested the night before."

Neji's face softened slightly with worry as he glanced down at his friends face; he squeezed Iruka's hand briefly before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to Iruka's tanned forehead. "Thank you."

"It's no trouble," Temari said quietly, the other nurses somehow having melted in to the background while they were speaking. "You're doing well? Not overworking yourself?"

"I'm fine, thanks." Neji brushed his hand through Iruka's soft brown hair one last time before turning to leave. "Well, I'll see you around."

"Wait!"

Neji blinked, and turned back in surprise. "What is it?"

"Um, do you think you could give this to Shikamaru for me?" Temari shyly withdrew an envelope from her pocket.

"Eh?"

"Please Neji? It would mean a lot."

"I don't know if I'll see him today," Neji cautioned. "Why not give it to him yourself?"

"He's a prince!" Temari gasped. "I couldn't possibly."

"I'm of lower rank than you."

"But you're his friend." Temari's face twisted in desperation. "Please, Neji!"

"Oh, alright," Neji relented. "I'll try and see it through." He tucked the envelope in to the pockets of his uniform and left the ward.

Again, unnoticed to him, a pair of glowing red eyes watched him from the end of the corridor.

XXX

An hour later, Neji found himself in front of his cousin, Hanabi. "You want me to what?"

"I need a chaperone. Hinata's feeling sick, and duly holed herself up in her bedroom," Hanabi said patiently. "Come on, Neji," she pleaded. "It'll be like old times."

"I never had to chaperone you when we were both six," Neji sniffed.

"But you had to stay with me and make sure I behaved around all of the younger children," Hanabi smiled earnestly. "Please, Neji—I haven't spent any time with you in forever."

"I did your hair last week," Neji reminded her, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He and Hanabi had always gotten along fabulously, given their identical ages and similar tastes.

"It's not the same! Hinata was there," Hanabi pouted.

Neji tried to resist, and then gave in. "Fine, I'll chaperone you," he muttered. "Not that you're the one that needs a chaperone. Promise me you'll save me from any sexual harassment," he pleaded.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you alone at any time," Hanabi promised.

"Although…you know, you could've just ordered me to chaperone you. I am a servant."

"Neji, you'll always be my twin brother to me no matter what."

"Suppose the suitors have a problem with that?"

"They shall have to deal with it if they want a chance with me," Hanabi said stoutly. "Now, come on, let's get you something proper to where."

"What?"

"Well, you can't be my chaperone in your servant uniform; the suitors wouldn't respect you at all," Hanabi said primly. "I would be in such danger."

"Are you trying to get me killed?" Neji grumbled. "Also, did you ask for your father's permission?"

"No."

"He won't be pleased if he learns of this."

"But alas," Hanabi said sardonically. "Oh, Neji, don't be such a worrywart. I'll take on full responsibility."

Neji just sighed in defeat, and prayed that Hiashi wouldn't be displeased if he found out the events of the afternoon.

An hour later, Hanabi entered the palace courtyard with Neji in tow. "Hello!"

"Greetings, Princess." Shikamaru waved at her lazily from his position on the floor.

Hanabi tilted her head curiously. "Shikamaru…we're not even outside."

Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders. "I was sleepy."

Neji hid a small smile behind his hand; if Shikamaru was here, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Then, Naruto exploded on the scene. "Where's Hinata?"

"Princess Hinata to you, Naruto," Hanabi said tartly. "She's feeling ill, and couldn't come down today."

"Why is Neji here?" Naruto pointed an accusing finger at him.

Hanabi's eyes flashed with barely concealed irritation; how Hinata could find anything enjoyable about Naruto was beyond her, especially when Naruto was still in a sulking mood. "Neji is my chaperone."

"Since when did you need a chaperone?" Lee asked interestedly.

"I'm a princess," Hanabi said in exasperation. "Hinata and I just chaperoned each other. It makes life easier for everyone."

"Except, apparently, for Neji," Shikamaru observed.

Neji grimaced at him in response.

"Oh, don't make that face Neji," Hanabi scolded him. "Now, how about an outing in the park?"

The suitors dutifully got up and assembled around the princess, each one fighting for the prized position on her right side. Hanabi left them to squabble, and linked arms with Neji.

"How are you feeling so far?"

"Uncomfortable. You do realize that I haven't worn a suit in exactly ten years?"

"Just as well then," Hanabi beamed. She was really enjoying her time with her cousin.

Neji smiled back at her and squeezed her elbow…

Only for his smile to drop off his face when he realized that the suitors were also squabbling about who would walk next to him. "That isn't necessary," he said, feeling slightly panicked. He didn't know what he would do if he was forced to spend too much time right next to Naruto.

"Of course it's necessary," Chouji waved him off.

"No, really-" Neji tried again.

"I'm walking next to him," Shikamaru said in a bored tone as he hoisted himself off the floor. "Let's just go already, shall we?"

And thus, they ended up walking in an awkward procession with Shikamaru on Neji's left, Neji and Hanabi linking arms, and Lee on Hanabi's right, and the rest of the group spread out at varied distances around them.

"How are you feeling Hanabi-san? I hope you won't catch Hinata's sickness," Lee said casually.

"I hope so too," Hanabi admitted. "She wouldn't come out of her bedroom at all this morning; she said that she looked like a mess. She sounded awful, as if she was losing her voice and her nose was clogged both at the same time."

Neji frowned, and readjusted his grip on Hanabi's arm. "That sounds quite serious. She wouldn't let anyone see her at all?"

"She's having Ino and Sakura wait on her today. I don't envy them."

"Why not?"

"You haven't been around Hinata when she gets sick. She gets terribly grumpy."

"Ah." Neji wondered at this; Hinata was a curious girl with a complex personality that seemed to change with the push of a button.

The talk of sickness reminded him of his mission for Temari. "Ah…Shikamaru. Temari asked me to deliver this to you." He released Hanabi's arm and pulled the envelope from his pocket.

Shikamaru seemed surprised. "Temari…" He tilted his head quizzically. "I don't know who Temari is."

"Blonde? Works in the infirmary?"

Shikamaru shook his head.

Neji sighed; so he was delivering a confession letter. Go figure; no wonder Temari couldn't bear to deliver it herself. "Well, never mind who she is. Just read it will you?"

"What, read it now?"

"Read it whenever you feel like it," Neji said shortly. "I'm sure she'll appreciate your consideration either way." Talking of Temari reminded him of his two friends in the infirmary, and in turn, made him irritable out of worry.

"Is something wrong?" Shikamaru eyed him perceptively.

"Well…" Neji hesitated. What did it matter to Shikamaru, a prince, if something was wrong with Neji's life? Their lives were so different after all.

Yet, Neji had a feeling that Shikamaru would be able to relate to what he was feeling. "Two of my friends are quite ill," he admitted. "I'm worried for them."

"Well, don't take your worry out on poor Shikamaru," Chouji teased, "Because I bet now he's wishing he was still napping on the courtyard floor."

Neji giggled at that. "I'm sorry if I was rude, Prince Shikamaru."

"You don't need to call me 'Prince'."

Neji shot him a sharp look; what was Shikamaru thinking, saying that in front of everyone? "But I'm afraid that I do, my prince."

Shikamaru shrugged. "As you wish."

Neji rolled his eyes and turned back to Hanabi. To his surprise, Hanabi was looking at the two of them with surprise. "Why would you want Neji to address you so informally, Prince Shikamaru?"

"The same reason that you want him to stop calling you 'Princess'," Shikamaru responded. "Because we're like family at this point."

"I was unaware that the two of you were so close." She scrutinized Neji; Neji did his best not to look guilty.

"It's not like we flaunt our friendship around."

"Why not? You guys are friends. Big deal." Konohamaru kicked a rock out of his way as they meandered down the road.

Shikamaru shrugged and turned his gaze up to the sky. "I figured that King Hiashi might not like it so much."

"What makes you think that?" Lee asked curiously.

Neji shifted uncomfortably; a few minutes ago, the group had been in several different conversations. Why was everyone so suddenly interested in his friendship with Shikamaru, and its potential social repercussions?

Shikamaru seemed to be on the same track of mind. "What does it matter to you?"

Lee smiled benignly. "I was simply curious, my friend. Nothing more."

Naruto suddenly sneered from the side. "Well, I think that I know why our king would disapprove."

Shikamaru sent him a withering look. "And what brilliant idea have you come up with?"

"His grace would assume that you two were sleeping together," Naruto said snidely. "Isn't that right, Neji?"

"Why are you asking me?" Neji retorted. "And be careful of what you say, Lord Naruto."

"King Hiashi won't defend your reputation," Naruto responded. "I'll say what I please."

"His grace might not defend Neji, but we certainly will!" Hanabi said sharply. "Good heavens, Naruto, what's gotten in to you?"

Everyone glanced around uncomfortably, as they all knew why Naruto was acting like an asshole. Obviously, Hinata's rejection of him had hurt his feelings quite deeply.

Hanabi took the ensuing awkward silence as Naruto's defeat. "If you haven't got anything nice to say, then just keep your mouth shut," she said tartly. "Now, what was it you were saying about Les Misérables Lee?"

Lee seemed somewhat startled at the turn in the conversation, but decided that he didn't want to hear anything more about Neji and Shikamaru's unconventional friendship. It was easy to forget that Neji was a servant in this setting, when he wore fine clothing (heavens knew where he'd obtained it from) and covered up his mark of servitude, but the bonds between servants and princes were few. Lee vaguely wondered if Shikamaru had any romantic intentions towards Neji, but then dismissed the thought. If Shikamaru wanted to marry Neji, than why was he still courting Hinata? It made no sense.

Lee hated himself for doubting his friend.

"Lee? I asked you a question."

"Ah! Of course, my lady." Lee scrambled to try and remember what they'd been talking about a few minutes ago. "Ah, yes! I was talking about Marius, and how he…" and he and Hanabi were off in conversation once more.

When they finally arrived at the park, everyone was surprised to see Orochimaru and Sasuke sitting by the edge of the duck pond.

"Lord Orochimaru, Sasuke." Hanabi nodded regally as she approached the pair. "Isn't it lovely weather out?"

"Yes, my thoughts precisely Princess." Orochimaru smiled as he looked up at the sky before looking back at Hanabi. "We were just outside catching a breath of fresh air."

Neji appeared at Hanabi's shoulder with an anxious expression on his face. "Will Iruka be alright then?"

Orochimaru nodded, and smiled gently at the nervous Hyuga. "Yes, haven't the nurses said so? He just needs some bed rest."

"Iruka's ill?" Hanabi looked between her cousin and the mage in bewilderment.

"Yes, my lady," Sasuke spoke up from Orochimaru's side. "He ingested a dangerous herb, and we had to treat him last night."

"Do you know how he ingested it?"

"It's all a rather large mystery," Orochimaru said drily.

"I imagine all will be revealed when he awakens, though," Neji murmured. He bowed low to Sasuke and Orochimaru. "Thank you for taking good care of Iruka."

"It's not trouble, boy. It will probably somehow end up being my fault that Iruka ended up eating that dreadful jranga in the first place," Orochimaru sighed regretfully.

Sasuke shook his head from Orochimaru's side. "If anything, it would be Kabuto's fault. After all, he was the one who handled it early that day."

"Don't rush to place blame on others," Orochimaru chastised him. "After all, it may very well have been you who left the jranga lying around." He playfully poked Sasuke in the forehead.

Neji shot a weirded-out expression at Hanabi. Why was Orochimaru behaving like a normal human being? Usually, he slithered around the castle like a giant snake, hissing and observing everything with his oddly colored eyes.

Hanabi also appeared to be slightly disturbed. "Well, enjoy the weather Lord Orochimaru."

"The same to you, my lady."

Hanabi nodded, and the interaction was over. She strode back towards her suitors, leaving Neji to scurry along behind her.

"Is Iruka the friend that you're worried about right now?"

"Yes."

"Who's the other friend in the infirmary, then?"

"Kakashi, uncle's valet. He isn't sick from ingesting anything, he's just getting some rest."

"Why is he tired?"

"He's been keeping himself awake at Iruka's side for over twenty-four hours. I figured he could use a nap."

Hanabi smiled slightly. "So you do care, Neji. I was beginning to worry."

"What?"

"You always seem so cold," Hanabi shrugged.

Neji sighed. "Sometimes, it's not always the best idea to where one's heart on one's sleeve, Hanabi."

"Why ever not?"

"Take a look at Naruto."

"Naruto's angry because he was rejected by Hinata. I don't think you're putting up a mask for the same reasons."

"You're right, I'm not. However, I don't have to tell you my reasons."

"Fine," Hanabi huffed. "I'll find out soon enough, though."

Neji smiled sadly as he watched her storm off to sit by Lee once more. Hanabi certainly seemed to be favoring Lee over the others. "I'm sure you will," he murmured quietly.

"I'm sure you will what?"

Neji gasped and whirled around. "Prince Shikamaru!"

"Sorry. Did I frighten you again?"

"I didn't know you were there," Neji said guardedly.

"So…yes?"

That made Neji smile. "Take it how you will."

"Sorry."

"You needn't apologize to a mere servant, your highness."

Shikamaru frowned. "I prefer 'Prince' to 'your highness'."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "And I prefer a little variety. What will you do about it?"

Shikamaru chuckled. "Nothing, I guess."

Neji and Shikamaru stood side by side, observing the young men flock around Hanabi and try and catch her attention.

"Why is Naruto still here? If Hinata rejected him, then surely he has no place here anymore."

"We're all fast friends; he's not here on courting purposes anymore."

Neji raised an eyebrow at Naruto's wild attempts to get Hanabi to laugh. "Are you sure?"

"Naruto's always trying to make people smile," Shikamaru shrugged.

"Not when he was talking about me, or Hinata," Neji muttered under his breath. "Or when he talks to you, for the matter."

"Yes, well…He can also hold a bit of a grudge. But he's only human, you know."

"I suppose," Neji relented. "It's just all so very unpleasant though."

"I know." The two friends shared a long look.

"Shikamaru, are you going to stand around and talk to Neji all day?" Hanabi called. "Let's play a game!"

Shikamaru smiled easily and walked away from Neji. "Of course not, my princess." He lifted her hand to his lips, and then set it back on her lap. "I can only spend so much time away from your delightful presence."

Hanabi smiled under Shikamaru's flattery; however, her smile didn't display her true feelings at all. She was slightly disapproving of Shikamaru's obvious affections for Neji, especially since Shikamaru had (unwittingly) broken her sister's heart. However, she also wanted Neji to be happy, and he did seem to feel that way around Shikamaru. So, Hanabi was quite at a loss for what to do, but decided that she felt vengeful for her sister. For all she knew, Hinata was probably crying on her bed in her room feeling lovesick while Ino and Sakura comforted…which was probably why her nose had sounded clogged in the morning.

Oh bloody hell.

"What game would you like to play, Princess?"

Lee's strident voice broke through her thoughts. "Hm? Oh, why don't we play a word game?"

"A word game?" Naruto seemed bewildered at the very thought.

"Why don't we play that one game…where someone starts off with a word, and everyone says a word related to that word and you try to end the game by coming back to the original word," Neji suggested. "Of course, you don't really want the game to end, so the person who says the original word loses."

Konohamaru shrugged, and then plopped down at the grass by Hinata's feet. "Sounds fun," he yawned. "Why don't we give it a go?"

"Does this game have a name, Neji?" Hanabi asked curiously.

"Not that I know of," Neji shrugged. "It's a child's game, but I thought it might be worth a shot. My lady, why don't you start us off?"

"Apple."

"Worm!"

"Mud."

"Compost."

"Decay."

"Death."

"Fungi."

Everyone stared at Shikamaru. "Death makes you think of fungi?" Chouji ventured at last.

Shikamaru shrugged. "I suppose. I mean, when we die, we decay and then fungus grows on us and…"

"Alright, that's enough," Neji pinched the bridge of his nose. "Um…moss."

No one bothered to point out that Neji had failed to call Shikamaru 'Prince'.

XXX

Hiashi raised an eyebrow when he saw that Hinata's place at the dinner table was unoccupied. Tonight, he had wanted a simple family dinner as he had a slight headache, and didn't want to deal with petty noble politics.

"Hanabi."

"Yes father?"

"Where is Hinata?"

"Hinata hasn't been feeling well since morning."

"Has anyone been in to check on her?"

"Ino and Sakura said that Temari went up and gave her some medicine, but well…" Hanabi hesitated, and then decided to plunge forward. "I suspect that Hinata might not actually be sick, and probably just spent all of last night crying."

"Good heavens." Hiashi stared at his younger daughter in horror; what could have moved Hinata to such a state? "I imagine you know why."

"Well, I have a hunch," Hanabi acknowledged.

"And what might that hunch be?" Hanabi's intuition about the relationships between anyone was uncannily sharp.

Hanabi opened her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by a shrill scream. The scream kept going and going as Hiashi and Hanabi leapt out of their seats and dashed out of the room, their conversation and dinner completely disregarded. Dread built up in Hiashi's' stomach as he raced through the castle; the source of the scream was definitely coming from Hinata's rooms. What could have gone wrong?

Naruto joined him in the corridor, and they ran together. By the time they had arrived, the screams had turned in to great wracking sobs from every single one of Hinata's waiting women.

"What happened?" Hanabi gasped. "We heard the screams and came…at…" she trailed off in shock.

"Oh my gods," Hiashi breathed, a hand rising to his chest. "This can't be happening."

The door to Hinata's bedroom had been flung wide open to reveal Ino lying face-down on the floor, a small trickle of blood falling down her forehead. Upon further inspection, Hiashi noted that her hands were covered in scratches, and that her nails had been chipped.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, stop screaming Sakura and run for a nurse!" he snarled at the stricken girl. Sakura instantly shut her mouth and ran out the door in terror.

Hanabi knelt by Ino's side and grasped her wrist, sighing in relief when she felt a pulse. "She's alive." She, Naruto, and her father gently turned Ino over so that she was lying on her back. "What do you think could've happened?"

Suddenly, a realization struck all three of them at the same time. Slowly, in unison, they all turned towards Hinata's bed.

Hinata was gone.

a/n: Yes I'm sorry it's a cliffy! Don't worry this story is going to be about twenty-two chapters long so this is really just the beginning. Please don't be mad about the cliffhanger ending (I hate those too, but hopefully it will keep you guys interested right?) but let me know what you thought of this chapter and I'll see y'all in about a week with the next one!