Eternal Shadow Goddess: Okay. I'm back. Thanks for everyone who reviewed and PM me. [grovels] And I am so sorry for taking so long. I'm graduating this semester with my Associate's so I have more time than ever. I will try never to take two freaking years to continue a story again. But I make no promises.
Neji: [smiles] Welcome back. Is everything in order?
Shadow: Yeah. My grades are where they need to be so I won't have to worry about financial aid anymore. [grins now] And the best part is at least two of my classes are so boring that I actually made the outline for the rest of this story on the first day of school!
Neji: [shakes his head] Typical. You do realize that the first day is boring but the second day is difficult.
Shadow: [groans] Don't remind me. Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Loveless. I am just a fan-girl who likes both.
Chapter 11: Shattering Silence
Neji sighed as he leaned back against the tree. School was on break for the summer holiday. And, like most, they were supposed to be taking advantage of the little time they had before they needed to go back to school. But Itachi had become tense, almost paranoid about the silence from both the Uchiha and the Hyuuga. After the first few days of silence, Neji was almost inclined to disagree. Almost. He knew that they were being too quiet. But the last thing he wanted to do was go out of his way looking for trouble that would come regardless. But Shikamaru and Naruto had felt differently three days ago at the meeting the two had called.
"Wait, you want to do what?" Temari had demanded.
"We should take the fight to them," Naruto insisted.
"Them as in…?" Neji asked carefully.
"Hiroaki Hyuuga and Fugaku Uchiha," Shikamaru supplied. His tone was still bored, as if he were in class talking about math or science.
"Are you two crazy?" Temari demanded.
"No," Naruto said rolling his eyes.
"Naruto-kun, Shikamaru-kun. I don't think you two actually thought this through," Hinata said carefully.
"No, we did," Naruto insisted.
"So what you are saying is, you would like the six of us to simply walk into the Uchiha or Hyuuga compound, where simply our name Fearless is guaranteed to get us attacked by everyone in there," Itachi said calmly. "to confront the Head of the clan. And in said confrontation, there is no guarantee that we'll win or even make it out of the compound alive to even to get to the next compound to do it all over again?" Naruto winced.
"There's no guarantee that either clan will follow the agreement. The only decree made was from the Seven Moon Academy that said Fearless would have to be defeated in a Spell Battle for one of the clans to claim the Fearless pair. You two," Shikamaru said finally. No longer was his tone bored. It was flat, cold, and harsh. "The clans didn't agree to it in writing. So even if you win, there is nothing saying that the clans agreed to the decree. If they truly wanted to, they could just take Neji's head or yours, Itachi. All they would have to do is wait for one of you to be alone long enough." Neji shot a look at Itachi, catching his unreadable expression.
"Shikamaru," Hinata began but trailed off, unable to find the right words. Maybe because there weren'tany right words to that.
"Itachi, you know better than any of us that the order might eventually be given to screw the Spell Battle and just take Neji's or your head when any of us aren't close. If any of you can honestly say that that isn't a possibility, we'll drop the conversation right now," Shikamaru said flatly. "We can continue with the tedious attacks, one after another until both clans are satisfied." No one spoke for a little while.
"Damn," Temari muttered. Itachi's expression was still unreadable.
"Well?" Naruto asked.
"Give us a few days, Shikamaru-kun. Naruto-kun. We'll decide in a few days," Itachi said finally. "It seems the two of you have been thinking on this for that amount of time?" Naruto gave an unrepentant shrug. Neji's tail had tapped against the floor steadily, uneasily.
Neji sighed. Just thinking about it put him on edge all over again. Yuiko ran over to him. Her usually happy smile was replaced by a worried one. "Neji-kun!" Yuiko said. He blinked at her before offering a strained smile.
"Yes, Yuiko-chan," Neji asked.
"Arisa-kun is looking for you," Yuiko said. "She's with Temari-chan." Neji closed his eyes and slowly counted backwards from ten in his mind. This was a vacation, a relaxing period. When he thought it was too quiet, he didn't mean the bane of his existence should come find him. And knowing Temari, whose new favorite pastime had become teasing her roommates, here would be exactly where they ended up. Shikamaru wasn't sure how he ended in this mess. Temari had been talking to Yuiko and Itachi. Naturally, they had to do it right next to where he was cloud watching. But this was Temari. It was natural. It was the fourth person that didn't belong. He quickly realized that after Yuiko had slipped off to find Neji for her.
"So, who are you again?" Temari asked.
"I'm Arisa," the girl said exasperated. "I was just wondering if Neji-kun was here too."
"Oh, pretty boy is here too. So, you two are friends?" Temari asked slyly. Arisa let out an annoyingly high pitched giggle.
"For now," she said dreamingly. Shikamaru looked up sharply at that, catching Itachi's unreadable expression. The only warning Shikamaru got was Itachi's spinning Sharingan.
So. Damn. Troublesome. Shikamaru thought.
"Is that right?" Temari asked, her eyes flashing with amusement.
"Temari," Shikamaru said finally. Temari glanced over at Itachi, noticing the possibly impending danger.
"Tell you what Arisa-san," Temari said smoothly. "Why don't you confess to him? It is summer." Arisa seemed to consider her words as Temari led her to where Neji possibly was.
"Was that Arisa-san?" Ritsuka asked as he and Yayoi came over.
"You know her?" Itachi asked coldly.
"Yeah," Ritsuka said, undisturbed. "She's usually trying to talk to Neji. Not that he actually gives her the time of day." Itachi seemed to visibly relax. But his Sharingan had yet to fade. Shikamaru simply laid back down. His good deed was done for the day. A shrill ringing pierced his ears, forcing his cat ears to become rigid. Shikamaru groaned. He spoke way too soon. Ritsuka winced. Neji gave Temari a murderous glare. He'd get her back for this. But first things first…
"Neji-kun, I've loved you since the first day we met. You're so cool and –" Arisa began.
"Stop. Please," Neji said finally, exasperated. It was a good thing he had sent Yuiko to go find Ritsuka earlier. The last thing he needed was Yuiko hearing this. Arisa and Temari was enough. Besides, this had gotten out of hand already. "Arisa-san, you barely know me. The first time we met, you asked me which class I was in and warned to stay away from Ritsuka-kun and Yuiko-chan. But you insisted that you could become a 'great friend'. But all you've done is hunt me down almost every morning, once, maybe twice a week at lunch, and every other day after school before class meetings to 'hang out'; which ironically only includes the two of us. None of your other friends or mine is invited. Every time I've attempted to be nice but you are obviously under the impression we have a chance for a relationship. So let me make this clear. I don't want a relationship with you. I am already in a relationship and I'm happy in my relationship. And if you really do love me, you will leave us alone and find your own prince charming that will love you for you." Tears sprang in Arisa's eyes.
"Right. If that's what you really want," Arisa said as the tears began to stream down her face. Neji sighed. Damn.
"Arisa-san," Neji said. "One day, you will find that one person who means the world to you. But I'm not that person. And you have plenty of time to –" Neji trailed off as a shrill ringing pierced his ears. Neji rubbed his temple. "find that person. Just, don't rush it." Arisa nodded slowly, still crying. Temari placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Arisa-san. Let's get you some ice cream. You're going to need it," Temari said, guiding her away. She glanced back at Neji, nodding grimly. Neji nodded and took off, heading straight for Itachi. Hinata rushed over to Naruto and Soubi.
"Naruto-kun, Soubi-san," Hinata said urgently. Naruto's conflicted expression hardened as he nodded.
"Go on. I'll cover for you," Soubi said simply.
"Thanks," Naruto said as he grabbed Hinata's wrist. He didn't hesitate to take off running with her. The silence was over.
Eternal Shadow Goddess: Okay, that was chapter 11.
Neji: [glares] One day back and I already want to kill you. You do realize that right?
Shadow: [shrugs] You aren't the only one, I'm sure. Once again, I am sorry that I took so long to update. But thank you for reading, reviewing, and PMing me. That actually helped a lot. The next update will be Friday, August 30th. Most likely, at night.
Neji: [pauses] Wait, you have a plan?
Shadow: [annoyed] Okay, one more person has one more time to make it sound like a surprise before I really get mad. It isn't that surprising.
Neji: [scoffs] Yes it is and you know it.
Shadow: [glares] You know what? I'm going to let that slid. Because that was part of the reason why I haven't been on in two years. [turns to readers] Thanks again if you are still reading this. And please review.
