AN: Thank you to Quintessence of Gold, indigo yamanaka, Wings-chan, maxridelover, EmoPrincess21, PeaceForEternity, and anonymous reviewer, I think I got everybody. A big shoutout to Quintessend of Gold. You totally surprised me with a review not one hour after I updated. Thanks!

Some of you gave me the idea to expand on the TentenxNeji arc and I think it will satisfy a lot of curiosity to get the pov of these two. This is the second half of day 1 of the Konoha Festival. Hope you like!


"Stop scolding. What do you care, anyway?" scoffed Tenten.

Neji frowned. "You're acting peculiar. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm merely interested in the guy."

"Nara Shikamaru? Don't be foolish." Neji said dismissively.

"Sure why not. He's hot especially when he's tipsy. Lucky Ino, wish it was me he locked lips with."

"Tenten." Neji said warningly.

"What? Any girl can see he's a catch. Besides, it is the festival. A great opportunity to let loose, don't you think?" she raised her eyebrow at the Hyuga genius, a small smile playing at her lips. "Oh look, more shinobi in fundoshi." she breathed, her eyes gleaming.

Ino…Neji's frown increased. She's with Sakura. Save it for later, Tenten first. He raised a hand, hesitated and watched Tenten step forward closer to the edge of the street. Already, she was fluttering a hand coquettishly at another stripped down shinobi with reddish brown hair.

"I thought you're into Shikamaru." he rebuked.

"Anybody really!" Tenten answered carelessly. "I just want to hook up with someone who looks like they're good in the sack." Tenten was suddenly broken out of her avid sightseeing. "Hey! Let go!"

"You and I have something to discuss." Neji said tightly. "Excuse us everyone." he nodded to the rest of their friends already half dragging half carrying Tenten away. Behind him, he could here murmurs from the others about the number of surprise events so early in the festivities. Lee's protest died at a look from Neji.

Tenten continued to struggle and nearly fell down in her leg binding kimono. The Hyuga shinobi stopped and righted her. "Are you going to go quietly or do I have to carry you?"

Tenten mulishly nodded her head in assent. "I'll go."

They walked in silence.

"So, what is really bothering you?"

"Oh, not that again." she rolled her eyes and looked away to the distance. "Nothing is bothering me so will you quit it? I just like looking at eye candy. Especially when they're showing so much of it."

Neji looked at her disapprovingly. "…and the 'hooking up' part?" he eyed her coldy.

"I was exaggerating." her mouth forming a sulky moue. "But even if I wasn't, it's none of your business."

Neji wanted to shake the kunoichi by the shoulders. He was getting very irritated. "You're my friend and teammate. I know you. Wanton behavior is not normal for you. Again, what's wrong?"

Tenten exhaled resignedly. "Neji, if you have to ask, there's no point talking about it."

Neji lifted a sardonic brow. "Am I suppose to read your mind?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Like you said, we've known each other for years! If you know me so well, go figure it out." she started tottering back the way they came, acutely feeling the lack of any action to stop her departure. Idiot boy! How can he be blind after everything we've been through! Short of putting myself out there wasn't it obvious I like him? she raged inwardly. Being a big tomboy she didn't realize her version of flirting was more obnoxious bullying. She proceeded to gingerly inch her way forward.

Neji slowly followed her back, his face inscrutable. "Let me help you." Neji put his hand on her elbow.

She sharply pulled away, shooting a warning glance at the tall shinobi. "Don't."

They continued walking, the sounds of their friends talking drifting toward them.

"I never got to finish what I was saying earlier." Neji kept his gaze straight ahead. "You look beautiful in your kimono." he said gruffly.

She looked at him suspiciously, "Uh…thanks." Tenten glanced away. "Don't get your panties in a wad. I'm perfectly ok. Chalk it up to a girl's sex hormones getting the better of her."

She heard choking sounds behind her, "TENTEN!"

"Yeah, yeah, TMI. Stop pestering if you don't want to choke some more." Tenten waved at their friends. "What's happened? Is the procession over?"

The guys nodded. Hinata head swiveled between her and her cousin.

"They've all gone into the shrine. Ano.." Hinata murmured. "We were thinking of visiting the stalls after the parade. There's also going to be a kabuki play near the center tent. Some foreign traveling troupe is in town and they're performing the history of the founding of Konohagakure."

"I want to get some food!" Naruto announced. Lee and Kiba simultaneously put in their assent to his suggestion.

Shino shrugged. "I'm not that hungry. Hinata, I can accompany you if you want to check out the shops."

"What about you my dear teammates?" Lee asked eagerly. "Will you partake of the many sure-to-be splendiferous offers at the market stalls and food vendors or will you enjoy some relaxation basking in the performance of a our colorful and victorious history?"

Tenten closed in on Hinata, "I'll go with you Hinata. I want to check and see if there's any good kunai made outside the village." Tenten linked arms with the pale brunette and poked Shino with her free hand. "Come on bug boy, you can be our escort."

Neji turned to watch the trio walk away. "I should check on Ino." He turned to Naruto. "Do you know where Sakura would have taken her?"

"I dunno. If it's breakfast they're getting, she usually grabs a pastry from the bakery. If not, maybe Ichiraku's?" Naruto shrugged. "Why do you have to check on Ino? It's not like you're dating her. Feeling the need to mark your territory after that smooch from Shikamaru, eh?" he raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Neji stared at him indifferently, not responding to the bait. He began to start in the direction of the market.

"Oy! Does that mean you are going out with her?" Naruto yelled out. Kiba was howling in laughter beside him.

Lee's eyes went wide. "Neji-san! Wait up," he hurried up to Neji. "My friend, is what Naruto-kun suggesting true? You are courting Ino-san?" he laid a restraining hand on Neji's arm. The Hyuga halted.

They heard the pair left behind making their way in the opposite direction. "If you want to catch up to us we'll be trying out some tempura at the food stalls." Kiba called out.

Lee quickly looked behind him and nodded his head. "Hai. I'll look for you later."

"Neji-san," Lee turned back to Neji. "are you?"

Neji looked at his friend. He rarely spoke of anything personal with just anybody, but this was Lee. They may have started on rocky ground during their training days with Gai Sensei but in the years since he has come to respect his teammate and appreciate the friendly bond that has grown between them. "I'm not sure. Come, let's continue walking."

Girls in sight were sighing left and right as they passed and not just at the Hyuga heir. Lee was getting his share of rapt gazes. In his dark kimono with his militarilistic posture, he looked just as dashing as the long-haired heartthrob.

"I have been training with Ino Yamanaka by order of Kage, you know this." Neji glanced at Lee inquiringly.

Lee nodded.

"While training, I've gotten to know her better. She…" Neji trailed off. "It is a surprise…how she got me to open up and…and share so many things with her. She is…unique."

"Um…? Then why…earlier with Tenten…?" Lee looked at him in confusion, his usual flowery speech deserting him. "I thought you like Tenten."

A look of unease passed Neji's face. "Tenten is a friend…" He paused and considered his words. She is his friend. But, when he first saw her today looking so beautiful and so feminine he remembered the surge of a foreign hunger roused inside him. That memory disturbed him. He had never seen Tenten anything more than just a teammate. But today, he had to revise his opinion and finally acknowledge that Tenten was a female, a very pretty woman, despite all her boyish interests. Now she's giving the impression that she fully intends to explore that unknown side to her. Recalling her flirtations with Shikamaru got him irritated again. Is she truly interested in the shadow nin? Or, as she said, any man who'll fulfill her desires? A tick started to beat a tattoo on his forehead.

The two friends continued walking in silence. One keeping his curious questions to himself, the other buried in a dark cloud of unfamiliar conflicting feelings.

oOOo

Step. Step. Step. Step.

The corridors of the palace yawned ahead. A lone shinobi came into view. His head was down, his loose hair swinging against his neck hiding his face.

A door suddenly opened and a blonde kunoicki stepped out and collided with the shinobi.

Oomph.

"Oy!" Temari held on to the other man's shoulder, pushing him away, "Watch where you're going, will you?" she said, her expression irritated. Her face cleared when she took another look at the guy in front of her.

"Shikamaru? Oh, hey. Are you going to the grounds below the palace?" Temari inquired. "The others should already be there."

Silence.

"Yo. Shika? You listening?" she snapped her fingers in front of the nin.

Peering behind him, she was familiar enough with the layout of the palace to recognize that the silent shinobi probably came from the medical unit.

"What happened? You got hurt or something?" she gave him a little shake. " What's with you?"

Shikamaru raised his gaze to look into Temari's concerned face. He had been walking blindly. His mind perusing and discarding one idea after another. Ino will probably punch me as soon as she sees me or start yelling the house down or god forbid, cry. What possessed him to behave like that with her? He had drunk alcohol before, stronger than the sake they were forced to imbibe earlier. Even sloshed out of his skull, he always maintained his cool. But earlier, remembering his sudden fury at seeing Neji holding her, his usual calm completely deserted him. It took all of his somewhat tenuous control to restrain himself from launching after the genius Hyuga's throat.

"Temari." he pushed her hand aside. "Have you seen Ino?"

"Ahh..." the Sand nin looked at him consideringly. "So something did happen. What'd I miss?"

"You mean you haven't heard?" he laughed darkly. "I'd have thought it would have spread by now. Practically the entire village was there to see me make a fool of myself."

"Eh? Is this something to do with the racket I heard earlier from outside?" she asked. "I could hear the crowd even from the Godaime's office." she gestured behind her. "I've been waiting for her since this morning but I was told she had to attend some ceremony for the festival. We just finished our meeting."

"I was sort of volunteered into participating." he said grimly. "Couldn't really refuse. The Godaime ordered around sixty of us to join as supplicants; all the shinobi she could find who hadn't made plans for the festival. Mendokuse." he scowled.

Temari burst out laughing. "The Hadaka festival. You were there? Are you still wearing the fundoshi?" she reached threateningly for his waistband. "Let me see."

Shikamaru slapped her hands away. "Hey!"

Temari roared with laughter.

A door banged open and the pair both jerked at the sound.

"I'm trying to work here!" another blonde nin stepped out of the room behind Temari. "What's with all the noise?"

Temari hurriedly straightened while Shikamaru turned to face the glowering Hokage with an impassive face. "Godaime." he said tightly.

"Ah, my good luck keeper! How's the head Shikamaru?" the Hokage said calmly, grinning.

"Hurting." he replied, his impassive facade briefly broken to scowl at his Kage. Thanks to you.

"Phshaw! Stop sulking. You were great! We needed some shinobi to participate, otherwise it would have taken the entire day before any of the civilians got it right."

"Now, I take it you're on your way to train your team?" The Godaime lifted a brow.

"Uh…actually..."

"May I remind you, how extremely critical this mission is. We must succeed." The Kage said emphatically, her face turning stern.

Shikamaru nodded curtly, quickly followed by Temari. "We'll head to the training grounds now, Godaime. Sorry for bothering you." she nudged Shikamaru.

Both gave a quick bow, waited for the Kage to give them leave and proceeded to take the stairs in the next corner at a brisk pace. As soon as they were out of earshot, Temari started snickering. "Good luck keeper? So it was you who made the 'straight' pass. So what did you do to cause such a racket? You can't have flashed anyone more than you already have just wearing a thong. Or did you?"

"Shut up." he glowered.

They headed to the basement, Temari goading Shikamaru the entire way. When the finally reached the training grounds the rest of their team were already doing practice sparring. As soon as the guys saw Shikamaru, they lit in on him, ribbing him unmercifully. Temari laughed even harder after she finally found out why Shikamaru was in such a bad mood. Naruto further pushed his buttons mentioning that Neji was dating Ino. It wasn't long before Shikamaru lost his famous calm once again and retaliated by making the team go through one of the most brutal practices they've ever had. The entire time, Sakura kept mum, eyeing the shadow nin consideringly. That made Shikamaru uneasy. As soon as they were done he made his way up to Sakura.

"Hey, Sakura…do you know where Ino is?" Sakura is probably the best person to ask. She and Ino were close friends after all and Ino did say she was staying with Sakura for the festival. They must have talked after he…left earlier.

The rest of the team were slowly making their way to the shower rooms, dripping sweat and painful grimaces on their faces. Even Temari shot him a dark look before taking her towel and leaving.

Sakura folded her arms across her chest, "Yeah, but first tell me why you did that earlier."

"I don't have to tell you. It's Ino I should be explaining to." he said defensively.

"Yeah, well, Ino isn't here and as her best bud, I gotta watch out for her best interest. Which means, you explain to me first."

"I was wasted." he finally muttered, not looking her in the eye. "Is she okay?"

"Wasted." Sakura stated skeptically. "I can't accept alcohol was the sole reason for that display. There must be more to it."

"It's none of your business Sakura." Shimakaru muttered, burying his hands into his pockets. "Let it go. Where is she?"

Sakura ignored his words. She cocked her head and eyed him appraisingly, "Shika, do you love Ino?" Sakura asked bluntly.

Silence.

Shikamaru stood dumbstruck. The color slowly drained from his face.

"You do don't you?" Sakura asked gazing at him wonderingly.

"Ah…I-I…" He squeezed his eyes shut and raised his hands as if to claw the air. Slowly his hands curled and fell to his sides, "I-I do. I love Ino." his head dropped, "So much it's driving me up the wall." he stated with finality.

"Oh, Shikamaru. You…" Sakura murmured softly. She raised a finger and gently flicked his forehead. "…BAKAYARO." Crash.

She glared down at him where he landed after her stunning blow of chakra. "Nara Shikamaru, you are supposed to be a master of strategy. How could you bungle this so badly?"

Sakura walked over to Shikamaru and crouched beside him until they were eye level. "She's probably still with the others." she shook a finger at the shadow inn. "Ino and I talked about what happened earlier. She's pretty confused right now. When we met up with the guys after we talked they said they were gonna watch a kabuki play near the big tent. The play should still be going on. Go to her."

Sakura bounced back to her feet and wiped her hands. "Who'd have thought such a lazy guy could be driven to such intense actions?" She was smiling at him, "I like you Shikamaru and I think you and Ino would be good for each other." Sakura turned and sauntered away. "Better take care how you deal with this. You have some hefty competition facing you. Ja ne." She grabbed a towel from the pile sitting in a bench beside the doorway to the shower stalls and went through the door.

Shikamaru sat on the cool ground in stunned silence. Slowly he shook his head, a low chuckle making its way to his throat. Sakura was right. He should have handled this better. If he'd been more frank with himself and properly examined his feelings for Ino, he would have known early on that he'd never be able to bury them away. The only recourse was to make Ino his, solely and irrevocably. He should have spent his time planning out how to persuade her to see reason rather than dawdled about their friends-only status quo. Of course, now he just had to make Ino fall as hard as he did for her. There was still Nejo to consider though. That must be what Sakura meant by competition.

He pushed himself up and dusted his pants off. He strode out towards the shower room, his step light. First, I've got to get this stink off of me. His laziness may be legendary but when pushed to action, his determination to succeed has rarely failed him. All those past missions he'd had to lead has honed more than just strategy skills. Hyuga Neji will just have to step aside or he'll make him step aside. Ino was his.

oOOo

The troupe was taking a break. Apparently, one of the main actors sprained his ankle during a battle scene and now the theater manager was frantically looking for a stand in. Lee immediately volunteered spouting drivel about patriotism and how the show must go on. The manager was so grateful he was nearly crying. With such a popular epic story the newly built amphitheater was filled to bursting. People were milling around exchanging opinions about the fourth act and how fierce the fight scenes were conducted while they waited for the troupe to ready themselves for the fifth and last act.

Ino fanned herself with her thin program.

"Enjoying the jidaimono?" she jerked at the breath of air that blew on her neck. She looked up behind her to see Neji leaning forward gazing at her intently.

"It's alright." she answered reluctantly. She increased fanning herself vigorously. "It was certainly realistic how the actor portraying the younger son of the Sage was yelling in pain in the middle of his fight."

"Ino, what happened with Shikamaru-"

"I'd rather not talk about it." she interrupted quickly.

Neji continued to gaze at her in concern. He glanced to where Tenten was engrossed in conversation with a merchant apprentice showing her a foreign-made kunai. "Hmnn...I seem to be hearing that a lot today."

"Oh?" Ino laughed nervously. "It's been a trying day I guess."

"Since we missed the parade, I would be happy to accompany you browse through the merchant stalls later tonight. I hear there are a lot of novel items are for sale."

She faced him in surprise. "Shopping? You'd go shopping with me?"

"If that's what you'd like." Neji said simply.

Before she could answer the head usher was announcing for the patrons to take their seats. The show was about to resume. They made their way to their row and soon got settled down with the rest of their friends. For some reason, Tenten didn't like her seat. The seat in question put her on the other side of Neji and she caused a minor ruckus insisting Kiba switch seats with her. The outdoor lights were dimmed and the curtain raised. A spotlight shown on the bent head of a dark-haired shinobi in the attire of the Senju clan. Lee's head shot upward and he looked out at the crowd with a piercing stare.

"HOOOOOUUUII!"

Lee strode to the hanamichi, a long walkway that extended into the audience. His exaggerated walk and flowing arm movements were in tempo with the music coming from the orchestra in the lower blacony. The actor portraying Madara Uchiha appeared from a trapdoor at the other end of the walkway and also made his way in an even more exaggerated walk towards Lee. Both men had fierce kumadori make up on their faces. The beat rose to a crescendo and the two actors struck a pose, on stage their two battle forces quickly ran up to form one solid front and behind them rose a miniature float representing the village of Konoha.

The play ended with a loud cheer from the audience with some shedding tears. On the edge of the stage, partly hidden by the curtains, the manager collapsed in nervous relief. A couple of stage hands rushed to catch him as he fell.

Ino jumped to her feet with the rest of the people in her row and clapped. The actor with the sprained ankle limped on stage with the support of a fellow thespian. The troupe took their bows with Lee in between the main leads a huge smile on his face. His part was short but was critical to the last act. Everyone on stage were grinning widely at the cheering crowd. A shower of confetti started to rain down on everyone in the amphitheater.

In the early evening light, the stars were barely shining through. The amphitheater was gradually emptying of people. Most of the crowd were heading back to the festival stalls where the night market was starting. The group decided to go backstage first to personally congratulate Lee on his short but highly visible role and then hit karaoke bars. On their way there they bumped into Shikamaru. Ino went rigid. The small group fell silent, everyone passing glances between Ino and Shikamaru. Neji took a step forward and put a hand on Ino's shoulder from behind.

Seconds passed. In the ensuing silence, Ino resignedly shooed her friends away while she mouthed to Neji that she'd be along shorty. The group slowly walked away, some teasing Shikamaru about his drunken behavior earlier that day. Neji was being pulled reluctantly away by Kiba. An air of discomfort immediately sprang between the two people left behind.

"Ino, I-" Shikamaru began.

Ino held up her hand, "Save it. You don't have to explain. I know why you did it."

He looked at her in confusion, "You do?"

"Yes. You got carried away. Stands to reason really, every guy there was probably in a reckless mood."

"That's not why-"

"There can't be any other reason Shika-kun." Ino interrupted tersely. "You're one of my best friends. You wouldn't do anything to wreck that, not after we fixed things up so recently. Let's just move on, ne?" Ino gazed at her friend pleading with her eyes for him to drop the subject.

He looked at her broodingly, "I didn't get carried away." Shikamaru took a deep breath and slowly let it out, "I've wanted to kiss you since that night at my house."

Ino stared at him in shock. Around the couple the milling crowd jostled them, people laughing and shouting about the long kabuki play and making plans for the rest of the night. Ino and Shikamaru ignored the ebb and flow of people, encased in their own bubble of drama.

Shikamaru stepped closer, "Why can't we be more?" he asked softly.

Ino looked at him askance, "B-because. We can't."

"Why not?"

"It would ruin everything!"

"How? I know I'm courting trouble and I hate troublesome situations. Yet, I can't stop myself from thinking about you. Why can't we, Ino?"

Ino shook her head in denial. "I've got to go." she said curtly. Her heart was pounding. Ino started to walk away. She only took a few steps from him when she heard him speak in a low voice.

"Is it because of Neji?"

She stood motionless.

"If it was, will you stop this?" she asked in a whisper. Please let it go.

"No."

She whirled around to face him. Shikamaru gazed back at her calmly. The dim light behind him cast shadows across his face.

"I'll say it again." He closed the gap between them and gently cupped her cheeks. Slowly he bent his head until their lips were barely brushing.

You. Are. Mine."

Shikamaru kissed her for the second time. And this time, she couldn't stop herself from kissing him back. It was exhilarating.


There you go. First day of Konoha Festival with two more to follow. Though, I think the pacing is too quick. Is it too fast? Advice, cheers, or flames all welcome. As always, reviews are much appreciated.

Please review. :)