Beta: Kuroda Miharu.
Warning: lemon.
When Shadows Surround You
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Chapter 12
Answers
"Neji, I'm sorr-"
The Hyuga hissed angrily and glared at Shikamaru, making the shadow-nin feel nosy.
"And now this bond has turned my life upside down!" Neji stood up, almost losing balance as Shikamaru watched him in disbelief.
The Hyuga's voice was so roar that the younger wanted to leave him there alone. What was the Hyuga prick was thinking? That he was enjoying the fucking bond?
But before he could say something in his own defense words kept slipping from Neji's mouth like a curse.
"I feel it all over again and it's with you and not Tokuma; I started living with a man I barely know and this stupidbond make us feel each others feelings..."
Rage arouse inside the Nara's chest and he wanted to punch Neji's pretty face. He had no right to get angry with him like that!
"It confuses me, Shikamaru!" the voice cracking and the deer ninja felt abruptly sad and confused. It wasn't his feelings, it was Neji's "Because it's making me feel like I like being with you, cuddling and making out…but you- Shit! I don't know if it's just the bond anymore!"
Shikamaru held his breath looking at Neji. Did he just say he was feeling the same way he had felt for Tokuma? Did he like living together? Was this what it meant to like someone? Was that what Neji meant? And why was he so defensive and angry?
"You shouldn't stop believing in love just because you weren't loved in return" the words sounded harsh, Neji was pressing all the wrong buttons at the same time "Kurenai had a lot of things in her head five years ago, imagine it, the love of her life just died and she's going to have his baby-"
"What are you talking about Neji? This is not about Kurenai!" Shikamaru cut him off irritated by the abruptly change of topic. He wasn't the topic right now and Neji had no right to talk about Shikamaru's past love disillusions.
"No!" Neji said, agreeing that it wasn't about her "It's about you, Shikamaru, and I'm saying you're completely lovable, so don't stop believing in it...because I could perfectly love you!" he said firmly looking inside those wide open dark eyes.
Shikamaru froze. He felt his heart race inside his chest and he stopped listening. It felt like diving into warm waves and never coming back. But his body was cold and shaking slightly not knowing what to think nor to react.
When Neji said he could love him, something burrowed deep inside his heart understood that it wasn't that he didn't believe in love, it was just that he was afraid of not being good enough to be loved, it hurt so much and was so scary he preferred to think he didn't believe in it, or that love was bullshit...
Shikamaru was running away from his fears and hiding from them in a lie…because it was easier. But the Hyuga was right there at his fingertips saying he was worth love and it felt huge inside his chest.
"Neji..." his voice deep and the Hyuga looked at him.
"I drank too much" he said, self-conscious "I think we should go to bed" he put out the bonfire without looking at the shadow-nin and started walking adrift.
Shikamaru stood up, his head weighing one ton and followed the other. He was feeling dizzy, his chest was overwhelmed and he couldn't think properly right now. He was looking at Neji's long tresses and back, watching him lose balance once or twice, leaning on the wall when needed. But he didn't care to help, too caught up in his own thoughts.
They walked inside the house in silence; the Hyuga drew their path into the living room and the corridor.
It was so fast…it felt as if Neji was running away from him that Shikamaru felt his chest tighten and stopped walking, he needed to do something. He needed to stop him! To say something! He needed to act-
"Neji!" he called out without thinking too much and the man stopped, never looking back, maybe he was ashamed, or afraid of what could happen now "Listen to me. Look at me" the Hyuga didn't turn and Shikamaru felt his blood stir inside his veins.
He cut off the three steps between them and pulled Neji by his wrist, pushing him against the wall, bringing their bodies harshly together, hands gripping the pale and soft skin of Neji's wrist.
"Look at me?" he asked almost sadly. Bright moonstones blinked and focused, looking at Shikamaru; there was anger, reluctance and even sadness, but he heard silently at Shikamaru "I couldn't sleep yesterday" he muttered, his free hand gripping Neji's nape to make sure he wasn't going to look away while the other made its way to bolter against the wall, the warm of Neji's wrist still burning his palm.
Now was his time to confess and Neji wasn't allowed to run away.
A deep breath reached his needy lungs and he looked inside the pale lilac eyes "I missed you yesterday" he whispered against his lips, nearly touching them with the tip of his own.
The Hyuga looked surprised. His eyes widened looking for whatever lie could be written inside the black stones of the shadow nin's eyes. Neji blinked twice seeing nothing but truth, feeling hisbreath mixing with his own, their lips so close, Shikamaru's fingers pressing over his nape possessively as if he could communicate what he felt with his fingertips...
"I couldn't sleep without you" he whispered gently against the other's lips, initiating a strong shiver down over Neji's spine, Shikamaru's expression showing a slight shadow of impatience to get some response.
The velvet touch of Shikamaru's lips was just millimeters away, his scent making the Hyuga breathe uneven. What the shadow-nin said was echoing again and again in Neji's eardrums, he couldn't keep being cold with his needs; he was burning inside and he couldn't hold back anymore.
'I couldn't sleep without you.'
It roused his deepest desires. Neji leaned forward, their breaths blending, their foreheads together, the cold steel of his hitai-ate against Shikamaru's hot skin...
So he stopped fighting.
Neji brushed Shikamaru's lips in a butterfly kiss and his hand grabbed the younger's nape, pulling him closer. Their lips skimmed together, breathing wildly in sync. Both mouths parted at the same time and the Hyuga held the other's body against his, one hand in the small of Shikamaru's back and the other caressing the man's neck; lips collided, Neji's tongue didn't wait or ask for entrance, it just made its way inside, rolling against the shadow-nin's tongue, sinfully, checking his moist mouth in each undulate move.
He retreated the muscle, sucking Shikamaru's lips, capturing the bottom one between his teeth, his tongue smoothing the bruised flesh with small licks, making the Nara moan loudly for more. The shadow-nin clasped Neji's waist and their tongues rippled together, exploring, dancing, playing, licking...
Strong fingers pulled on long silky hair, their mouths parting away for air just to restart kissing senselessly, hands maneuvering strong bodies, fingers clutching in heavy fabric...Shikamaru's thoughts were lost, completely insane; he knew it was wrong, that Neji was wasted and he shouldn't take advantage of him, but he started it and the slow burn was now all over him. His blood rushed as hot lava inside his veins and Neji's hands grabbing his ass at the same time he sucked Shikamaru's bottom lip was driving him crazy.
His half lidded eyes caught a glimpse of Neji's expression; he was in deep pleasure, groaning against his chin, biting it carefully. He was the image of an animalistic god, lost in delight and eagerness and this conclusion made Shikamaru's mind cloud over and he couldn't step back anymore, he wanted it all...
Neji's tongue drew a wet pattern against the Nara's neck, spreading open mouth kisses against the column of his throat, making Shikamaru growl with desire and pant for air; he bit at the bend of his shoulder, feeling its muscles contract and relax under his teeth, his tongue licking on the bite to soothe the pain...
The moist organ sketched over olive skin and his lips took an earlobe, kissing it gently, sensually. The deep breath against Shikamaru's eardrum made him shiver and tense, grabbing Neji's nape and shoulder for balance.
The Hyuga stilled, his breath becoming calm and steady again though deep, and his hoarse voice made Shikamaru moan senseless.
"I'm not going any further, Shikamaru, I'm drunk."
They stayed like this for a while, holding onto each other until their hearts started beating normally and blood started slowing down inside their veins.
"You're sleeping in my bed tonight" Shikamaru said firmly against Neji's cheek.
He hummed sounding a bit tipsy and tired "That would be a pleasure".
Shikamaru smirked, arms around Neji and he moved his head back in order to see the Hyuga's pretty face.
They looked into each other eyes for a while in complete silence. Both of them still needy though they knew it wasn't right and that they shouldn't, at least not like this. Shikamaru skimmed their noses gently and sighed heavily.
"Don't get troublesome, Nara, I need to sleep" Neji said taking the shadow-nin's face in his hands and looking in his eyes deeply. He brought their lips together once again and kissed him softly. "Lead us to bed" he mumbled low and Shikamaru did.
They lay in bed together, clothes fallen over the floor and bed, just tee shirts and underwear left. Shikamaru hugged the man in front of him, smelling his scent and feeling warm, like they were protected like that. He caressed Neji's arm and cuddled, his fingers playing with the long tresses of black silky hair.
"Neji?" he called low.
"Mm?" the ninja muttered sleepy.
"I think you're right" he listened to the elders deep breathing, already asleep, and kissed the back of his head protectively "It can be pretty nice to spend the night with someone you care about..." the whisper echoed a bit in the dim room and they slept.
x
Neji was lying on his stomach, closed eyes and beautiful features facing Shikamaru, slightly open mouth, fingers clutched into the soft sheets and his long hair spread over the pillow. He could see goose bumps on his arms and the low moans sounded too sexy for his own sake.
The shadow-nin sat still on the bed, too caught up in the situation to decide what he should do. Neji was sleeping soundly but what exactly he was dreaming about Shikamaru preferred not to know. He watched mesmerized as the Hyuga moved slowly, pressing his hips against the mattress and humming deeply, the way his fingers twitched on the sheets with a low sigh made Shikamaru shiver with the view of the pale skin writhing sinfully.
That was way too much for him, he stood up slowly and walked shakily to the bathroom, he needed a shower. A very cold one.
He took off the clothes and stepped in the shower, shivering with the cold water against his feverish skin and breathed irregularly, closing his eyes. Soft white skin...slow thrusts against the bed...claws scratching the sheets...
Shikamaru breathed deeply, not controlling his mind anymore. It was nerve wrecking. He was trying his best to stop it, but he was completely aroused and Neji's body was appearing in his mind, haunting him. But the bond kept their desires together and even if he could Neji was too asleep to control himself.
His hand punched the wall but after it slid over his abs and fingers surrounded his stiff member. Tremor broke into his knees making him grab at the faucet and growl, his hand starting to jerk triggering strong heat waves over his lower body. The water was cold but it just added a masochist shiver over his back, pouring on his head and slipping through his skin, becoming warm until it hit the tiled floor.
"Ah" he moaned, feeling pleasure start coiling in his loins. He faced the jet of water, wetting his face and thick hair, he suck air through his mouth, droplets of water falling in his mouth, pooling and overflowing.
Part of his mane let go of the band, some hairs falling over his face, shaping his sculpted features while he corkscrewed his hard shaft viciously, sighing abruptly.
It wasn't going to take long, he wouldn't last more than three more minutes or so. But the door was spread open and he saw Neji's frame over the glass door, his hair falling over strong shoulders and straight back.
"I'm almost there" the Nara groaned, as if he was asking for mercy and time.
But the Hyuga closed the door and stepped forward. Shikamaru's profile was there, completely exposed. Hand working fast on his arousal, stomach contracting with jerky spasms, lungs panting for air with eyes wide shut.
A growl ripped through Neji's throat and made its way out in a howl, deep and masculine. He took off his clothes, watching Shikamaru's exhibition. He breathed shakily and opened the glass door quickly getting inside in a graceful motion.
Cold water splashed against his chest, he sighed and took one step jointing their bodies. Both men groaned animalistic, tantalized by the friction. Neji's erection squeezed against Shikamaru's naked arse, his chest pressed against the shadow-nin's back and their skin sliding together.
"Oh..."
"Fuck this shit" Neji muttered against Shikamaru's ear shell and took the man's throbbing erection in his palm, holding his waist in place, and started handling it.
The Nara breathed mesmerized, his head falling on Neji's shoulder, one hand grabbing into the long hair of the Hyuga and the other backing on the wall. So much pleasure coiling all over his damned body, trembling his whole frame.
Neji slid his groin against round buttocks, shivering and sighing, his voice catch in the back of his throat. He bit down on the crook of Shikamaru's neck and shoulder, sucking it intensely.
Their bodies pressed and pushed together, Shikamaru turned his face and his mouth searched for Neji's, tongues meeting out of their mouths, licking and entering their mouth hopelessly. The Nara tilted his ass against Neji's hard-on, provoking a growl in the deep of his throat.
He groaned rolling their hips and corkscrewing Shikamaru from base to tip. "Oh lord!" he panted "Neji..."
x
"Oh lord!" a voice sounded muffled but near "Neji..." the ghost-like moan woke the Hyuga up, feeling hot and sweaty, his groin in extreme pain and need.
His eyelashes spread open, trying to understand exactly what was happening, the bright light almost blinded him but Neji had his pupils readjusted fast enough. All his body tensed in alert and he looked around, recognizing Shikamaru's bedroom and hissing at his sore groin.
He looked over his shoulder seeing Shikamaru's naked back uncovered and sweaty, he was shivering and grunting, but wasn't because of the chill inside of the room, it was different and the stupid statement made the Hyuga dither.
Flashes from the last night popped like curses in his mind and all he could remember was that they have kissed and that he had almost confessed, or sort of...
He watched as the chuunin arched uncontrolled, his tanned skin exposed as the light entered through the ajar window. Fascination caught him up; the scent of sake and cigarette mixing with men sweat draw a throbbing sensation over his loins and he hissed.
Today is our last day together.
It wasn't a goodbye feeling but the fact triggered something inside Neji, something that made him stop thinking and start acting. He just wanted to feel one more time, to have Shikamaru in his arms and make them burn together. It felt senseless, raw and carnal.
So he acted.
The Hyuga tossed his own body against the Nara's frame, making the man moan loudly and shiver, too caught up in the sensation to wake up.
He called out his name again "Neji, please...".
It made the Hyuga lose all rationality he still had and a second after one of his hand was tugging on Shikamaru's lose hair and the other was working above the clad erection.
"OW!" the growl fled the chuunin's mouth as soon as Neji's lips kissed a totally sensitive point right under his earlobe, his eyes wide open and the reality taking control of his dream, his fucking wet and hot dream.
What the hell?
His mind needed two seconds to understand that he was dreaming about a second base make out in the shower and woke up into a real second base in his own bed. He felt Neji's breath blowing against his ear and closed his eyes enjoying the sensation that spread over his limbs.
Neji was there, craving him.
The Hyuga dipped the other man's underwear and took his hard flesh in his fingers at the same time he kissed his jaw and tasted the salty sparkling sweat on his throat. The Nara was leaking under his hand, moans and grunts escaping his parted lips; Neji felt his gland pulling slightly out of his underwear, too aroused to fit in the boxers. The thrill of skin against skin made him cock his hips unhesitatingly, panting against Shikamaru's skin and jerking him off faster.
His clad hard-on thrusting against Shikamaru's unclad buttocks, making him hiss and pant for air and release. Neji was at a loss, there were so many feelings, but feelings he could fight back, hide them inside his stoic façade, but raw desire no...it made him act out of character and dive in. He could lose his mind keeping it up.
He drew open mouth kisses on Shikamaru's jaw and neck, both men sighing and bowing, their bodies bound together in extreme pleasure.
"Shikamaru..." he breathed roughly, biting on the exposed ear lobe, sucking it to soothe the sharp pain.
"God, Neji" the Nara hissed, losing it "Finish me! Do it!"
And the command worked out perfectly. Long damp fingers stroked against the pre-cum moistend flesh. Roughly, raw pleasure surrendered Shikamaru's body and he arched uncontrolled coming under Neji's tight grip, pressing his ass over and over against the jounin's almost uncladded length, driving him into shattering bliss too.
"A-ah..." the groan fled the Hyuga's lips and reached the other's eardrum, making Shikamaru breathe deeply.
"Dear god" he muttered, feeling oddly empty. Neji's breath still rhythm-less and hard, his hand still holding Shikamaru's shaft, as he didn't want to let it go and let it end.
Neji closed his eyes, lips kissing the bruised fur softly, a mix of emotions colliding inside his chest. The rapture of the strong orgasm and the knowledge that it was over.
Today was the day of saying goodbye. He held onto Shikamaru's body, his long fingers drawing patterns over the tanned abs, his palm stopping on top of the Nara's pulsing muscle, feeling it' beat.
He smelled the whole scent of Shikamaru's body, the tip of his tongue tracing the shadow nin's jaw-line. He needed to let go, but before he could move the Nara held his arm and their fingers tangled together, fitting perfectly.
White marble and olive skin.
Shikamaru turned on the bed, facing Neji. Their eyes keeping the glance, the deer-nin's hand caressed Neji's beautiful feathers, their foreheads locked together and their noses brushed, breath mixing and strange feelings aching inside manly rib cages.
"Neji" it sounded pained and the Hyuga closed the distance, their lips skimming, wet and eager, clashing together, tongues thrusting an oh-so-needed last kiss. Hands fisting hair and tongues circling, pushing, seeking for more.
Maybe there were some meaning beside the desperate sucks and licks but they had no time to figure it out.
It was a short-lived kiss, because a deep voice crashed the silence of the house.
"Yoshino?" Shikaku's lazy tone called from the front door and both men stilled.
x
"Thank god you're back!" Shikamaru said leaving his room wearing a loose yukata "Dammit, when I need you to play the father role you're out in mission!" he almost yelled "What took you so long?" he demanded and looked straight at his father's eyes.
"Oh, good mornin' to you too, Shikamaru" he said dropping his backpack and stretching "Where's your mother?"
"At gran's house, she had a fever."
"Not true, your grandma is in Suna travelling with her friends for the month" he said, sitting heavily on the couch.
"So maybe she's cheating on you, old man" he smirked.
Shikaku rolled his eyes lazily and watched his son. Flushed cheeks, hickey on the neck, odd smell.
"You stink" he muttered, a smirk arising on his lips "Did I interrupt somethin'?"
Shikamaru hissed.
Yeah, perfect timing indeed.
"No, dad" he answered bored "Why don't you do some tea for us?"
"Do I look like your mother? Why don't youdo this tea, eh, I would much appreciate a hot shower right now..."
"Did Tsunade tell you?"
"Tell me what?" he asked, kicking off his sandals and stretching over the couch.
"Shit dad, you know nothing?"
"I know I should come back as soon as possible."
"Because of me, old man!"
"You?" he sat straight "Are you ok, son?"
"No dad. I'm bonded."
"Eh?" Shikaku looked confused. "Bonded with what?"
It was an odd silence as Neji appeared from Shikamaru's bedroom door, wearing his usual robes, hair held back in a band, looking as stoic as ever though a bit shy. His father looked from one to the other as he couldn't understand a thing.
"With me, Shikaku-san" the Hyuga said watching the older Nara widen his eyes worried "I'm very sorry" he added politely.
Then Shikaku's fast mind made a path right away to the stupid situation they were in. Hyuga Neji in his house this early in the morning, Shikamaru's weird smell - which he didn't want to think about right now - the hickey, the hurry in his son's voice, the fact that Shikamaru didn't step too close or move away...
"Dammit!" he hissed, his face lightening with the devastating conclusion. He stood up and glared at them deadly seriously "What the fuck is happening here? And where the hellis Yoshino when I need her?"
Shikamaru had the insight that she must have felt his chakra because Yoshino stormed through the front door a minute after Shikaku started freaking out. He was very mad at them and asking about the bond points and scolding their stupidity, while walking around the small the table in the middle of the living room.
The chunin felt completely relieved when his mother came in, flushed and panting, looking like she had been running to get there before her husband killed them.
Perfect timing, mom!
"Hey honey" she said, trying to calm him down, stopping his laps around the frigging table and patted his shoulder.
"Don't start" he warned her "What the hell is happening in this house? Eh?" he sounded angry though it wasn't something normal in his usual laid-back behavior "I give you some days off getting my fat arse far away from here and when I come back it is a fucking mess?" he looked huffy "Why did you leave them alone?" he was very dissatisfied "Eh? You even lied to them!"
Neji was watching on very ashamed. He felt somewhat guilty and in the middle of a family-thing, as if it wasn't his business although he was stuck up to the neck in this shit. Something in the situation triggered his interest; the strange dynamic that started caused him to stare astonished. Because the man would criticize his wife and she would reply just as harsh as him, not giving the husband any chance in that haggling.
"Come on Shikaku, stop! The boys don't need to hear your crappy bullshit!" she said loudly "We don't need you freaking out right now."
"What were you thinking?" he asked massaging his temples "How many steps?"
"Seventeen" they said in sync.
"See! Care to explain why were you sleeping in the same room? No, better, don't tell me because m'not sure I want to hear it!"
"Shikaku!" Yoshino policed him.
"Can't you two think a little bit? Why does the whole village call you two 'genius' for blatantly being stupids? Didn't you imagine what could happen when you're bound and hav-?"
"Crazy man!" Shikamaru hissed tired of the shitty situation "Do you really think we're happy and glad with this frigging shit? That we enjoy being together 24/7? That this desire-feelings-love-bond is very entertaining?"
"What a damned drag!" Shikaku mumbled falling on the sofa.
"Boys, why don't you go take a shower? Eh?" Yoshino suggested, smiling at them "Clean up, calm down and come back, we will discuss it drinking some tea as adults" they nodded and she shushed them "Great, come on boys."
"Yoshino!" Shikaku hissed in dislike.
"Separately, or your father is going to have a heart attack" she added and they disappeared in the hallway. When the guys couldn't hear her high pitched voice anymore she started again.
"Baka! The kids have feelings, do you think this last week was easy for them? You should have seen their faces yesterday! They understand nothing, they're completely confused! They needed to work things out for themselves, so stop being spoiled, chill down and listen to me:" she bent down, looking inside her husband's eyes "We are parents, Shikaku, we don't judge them, we just help the boys out, remember? You taught me that, Shika."
The concerned look in her dark brown irises and the sweet tones in her voice made him sigh and pull her in a hug.
x
Neji's head was spinning. A strong headache making him even more silent. He took his shower fast and tried to quiet down his mind and heart, but couldn't. The cold water wasn't enough to make it stop.
Stop it!
He felt a growl climbing his throat but swallowed it. Everything was happening too fast and he couldn't keep up.
They had explained everything to Shikaku. Since the very beginning; the chakra fusion, the small chords that keep them together, the start of the physical synchrony, the development into feelings linkage...
Neji needed time and space now.
Endure it...
When Shikaku arrived, they were abruptly split and Shikamaru smiled happily, his eyes shining with happiness, a kind of feeling that Neji couldn't feel in that moment because that moment was their treasured kiss-goodbye and it was broken out of the blue.
"He's here!"
He could close his eyes and hear it over and over again. Watching the Nara jump out of the bed and clean his skin with a towel, putting a yukata on and leaving the room anxious.
That anxiety pushed all the wrong buttons, Neji needed to swallow the bad taste of crashing inside his chest and to blink several times to not let his eyes do something stupid.
Like crying.
The hell!
He forced his chakra to his feet and jumped five feet ahead of Shikamaru, toeing the roof of another house and increasing his speed. Something sad was mixing with the sickening taste of rage. They needed to call his uncle and grandfather and meet the Nara's at the Hokage Tower in twenty minutes.
He wasn't ready for it.
Yoshino's calm voice sounded in the back of his mind, her soft smile directed to him while they waited for Shikaku and Shikamaru to close the damn door.
"Are you ok, Neji-kun?"
He managed to smile sadly and nod, looking away a minute after. Something was wrong with him, very and deeply wrong...
"Hey!" Shikamaru called out, making him lower the speed "You all right, Neji?" he asked, getting closer.
"Hm" the Hyuga hummed and breathed "Let's say that your father doesn't look very friendly right now" he lied.
"Don't bother, he'll get over it. He's is just shocked."
Neji nodded and sped up. He didn't want to talk, he just wanted to end it as soon as possible so he would have enough space and time to deal with his feelings alone. He tried to smother the pain thinking about their intimate moment first thing in the morning and the slow shiver that burned the small of his back made him smirk.
That was good.
They ran even faster when entered through the Hyuga compound and headed to the Hyuga Main House.
"Hiashi-sama" Neji greeted, entering in the dojo where Hinata and Hanabi were training together "Shikaku-san is back, he asked for your and Hideki-sama's presence at the Hokage Tower."
"Oh, the shadow man is back. Good, I'll find you grandfather and we see each other there" he said stoically and ordered the girls to stop. They did and saluted Neji - one very shy and the other completely enthusiastic.
Hiashi walked him out and looked at Shikamaru who was waiting outside, a cigarette between his lips and looking a bit anxious and very out of his lazy character.
"Hiashi-san" he greeted and the man looked seriously at him.
"You look happy" he stated in his baritone voice.
"Shouldn't I? We're finally breaking it, back to our lives."
"I always thought you were lazy, looks like you miss your work and missions what is very dignified" he concluded, watching the small changes in the young man expression, as if he didn't think about it before. "See you there, Neji" he said and walked away.
"Quit this shit" Neji said looking at Shikamaru's cigarette.
He frowned.
"I have a headache the smell is making it get worse, you don't want me pissed off right now, do you?" his dry voice made Shikamaru nod. He wasn't sure enough about what was happening to Neji; he wanted to break the bond and stop the massive complications and now he was as harsh as a cat tongue.
The shadow-nin extinguished his cigarette and watched the other start walking.
Shikamaru felt bad, so bad he knew it wasn't his.
"Wait, Neji" he said, taking the man by his wrist, their skins burning with the touch "Don't feel like this, please" the soft voice drew a silver in the Hyuga's body "We're going to be ok" he kept talking and stepped closer, his chest against Neji's back, breathing over the long cocoa tresses "It's going to stop when the bond is over" his fingers caressed Neji's wrist, they trembled with the slight touch "We'll get used to it and-"
The hard pull made Shikamaru's eyes widen, the Hyuga stepped forward and brought his wrist to a safer position, far away from the others' touch.
"Save your bullshit, Nara, I just don't want your father talking more than the necessary in front of my uncle and Hideki-sama, I don't need that."
Shikamaru snorted and they started walking. Neji could feel the pain and rage mixing, he didn't lie, he really didn't want his family to know what exactly happened between him and Shikamaru. But what was bothering him the most was the stupid smile and the simple way the Nara was dealing with the situation.
It was hurting him without his will.
When Hideki-sama entered in the room, Neji was standing far from the Nara couple and Shikamaru was watching him silently from the window, five steps away.
Nara Shikaku was looking damned bored and his wife smiled politely at them. Kakashi and Tsunade were talking quietly.
"Hideki-sama, Hiashi" she greeted and they sat in the spare chairs "Well, now I think we can start, shall we Shikaku?"
"Hn" he hummed and sat straight "First, I apologize in name of my whole clan and especially my son for being so clumsy and driving Neji and your whole family into this pitiless situation" he stared at Shikamaru for a second and looked at the Hyuga leader "Though no one did it on purpose, not even Shikamaru. In fact he didn't even know he could bond themselves with his shadows."
The chunin's mouth gaped open and he watched his father in disbelief. He had said before he was going to explain the whole problem just once and refused to say what was happening until now.
"As I'm sure Kakashi and Tsunade-sama may have imagined, this is the Nara's Clan Secret Jutsu."
Hideki crooked an eyebrow in suspicion.
"And how does it work, Nara-san?" his strong voice sounding challenging.
Neji's heart raced, it was an explanation to be given.
Looks like fate is going to provide me with some answers.
"Well..." Shikaku sighed "It's a drag to explain, so I will use a well-known and old legend to make you understand. It's the same way the old leaders of our clan wrote down the Secret Jutsu."
Everybody went very still. Tiny chords pulling inside Shikamaru's chest; curiosity spreading all over him. Why the hell he had never listened to that?
The fingers of curiosity crawled inside his brain and he watched from the corner of his eye Neji becoming mindful and focused.
"What legend?" Hiashi's voice sounded calm, but the air stiffed.
Tsunade breathed easily, Kakashi lowered the scroll he was reading and the both older Hyuga paid great attention, while Yoshino just smiled and looked at her husband softly.
"Akai Ito" Shikaku said.
The young Hyuga gasped and Shikamaru raised a brow.
"Are you kidding Nara?" Hideki asked somewhat amused and laughed heartedly.
"I am not."
"The Red String of Fate?" Neji breathed the words shakily. A storm arising inside his chest and he didn't know if it was him of Shikamaru or if both of them were terribly confused.
His white moonstones eyes stared at midnight black ones, they hold the deadlock and their breath in sync.
Seems like fate is not willing to give me a break.
They felt alone in the room.
Just them.
Nara Shikamaru, Hyuga Neji and the strong red string of fate that bound them together.
A/N: MASSIVE thank you for all your lovely reviews, feedback and PM's. You made my days and real life much better with your warm words. I'm sorry for the delay, but life is not always a piece of cake and then this kind of things happen, hope you apologize me.
So...what about the make out? It was hell to write! And Shikaku's reaction, dammit, I had no idea how this completely laid-back man would react, so I mixed it with a bit of normal fatherly reaction...
Akai Ito: I know a lot of you dears know about it, if not, don't worry I'm going to explain more in next chapter! Hope you liked the twist in it and how it came out. Please, share your thoughts!
Loads of tea, chocolate, love and warm embraces for you all, my dears! :3
xxx Tai
