Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 14

Taking a breath Neji stepped over the threshold, a bell chiming happily.

He looked around the flower shop quickly and saw a woman standing behind a counter. She had bright-blonde hair and he was quite certain this woman was Ino's mother.

"Hello," the woman smiled at him when she looked up. "How can I help you?" She asked with a wide smile.

Neji walked to the counter slowly, the irritation and anger that was boiling inside him buried for now. Until he saw Ino of course. Although Ino was not the only one to blame. Because Shikamaru should've known better even if he wasn't as smart as he was.

"I'm looking for Ino, have you seen her by any chance?" He asked politely.

The woman blinked before she smiled brightly, a happy twinkle appearing in her eyes and she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! She's upstairs, through there and you'll walk into the living-room right away." She said and pointed towards the stairs next to the counter.

Neji nodded with a small smile, thanking the woman and ascending the stairs.

No doubt she thought he was here to ask Ino out but she couldn't be further from the truth.

He had to admit he was quite nervous. He hadn't thought of what he wanted to say or do but he was sure of one thing. When he was leaving Shikamaru was with him and Ino understood she stood not a single chance.

They hadn't noticed him, they hadn't even heard him entering the room.

On the couch which stood with its back to the doorway Neji was now standing in, sat Shikamaru, hunched over and his head buried in his hands. Ino sat beside him, her arms thrown across his waist and her head resting on Shikamaru's shoulders.

Comforting, my ass. Neji thought.

"I told you he's a bastard. He thinks he can just use you and then switch to Kiba." Ino spoke, her voice soft and meant to be comforting. "You should just dump him."

Neji bit his lip in an attempt to calm himself down. He wondered if he should speak up now or hear what Shikamaru would answer. But after his lover hand ran away like that, he decided he was quite curious what he was thinking right now.

Shikamaru sighed. "I love him, Ino. I can't just dump him."

Ino shrugged at this. "Sure you can."

"Ino," Shikamaru said softly. "He is defying his clan for me. I'm sure I misunderstood." He continued and then sighed irritated. "Gods, I over-reacted."

And that was the perfect entry Neji needed.

"You sure did." Neji spoke, but his tone wasn't angry, and took a step forward.

Ino jumped out of her skin, letting out a surprised yell and she jumped away from Shikamaru and stared at the long-haired Hyuuga with widened eyes.

Shikamaru started too, turning slowly with a frown etching his features, his eyes slightly red.

Shit, he had been crying. Neji realized.

"But I can relate." He added on a soft tone, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Neji." Shikamaru said, his tone hopeful.

"What are you doing here?" Ino suddenly screeched, jumping up and pointing at Neji with a furious expression.

Anger flashed through Neji's eyes and he turned his eyes to the blond kunoichi. His lips were set in a thin line and he didn't say a thing. He was sure Ino would understand.

"You can't just barge in here! Get out, we don't want you here." Ino stalked towards Neji and stood in front of him with an angry flush.

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Your mother let me up." He said and then continued, not in the mood for waiting. "And I am here to take Shikamaru with me."

Ino huffed and let out a laugh. "You don't love him, you betrayed him. Now get -"

"Shut up, Yamanaka." Neji spat, his expression dark and his fists shaking from anger. He wouldn't hit Ino. He wouldn't lower himself that such standards. But he wanted to so badly.

Ino blinked and gaped, surprised and shocked that Neji had interrupted her.

"Kiba was gracious enough not to do as you told him. Not surprising, but he is more afraid of me hurting him than he is of you." Neji said, his tone shaking from anger and dripping venom.

Ino paled.

"What is going on?" Shikamaru suddenly demanded. "Ino, what did you do?"

Neji's anger melted some the moment Shikamaru spoke up. Ino wouldn't go unpunished.

Admittedly he had felt bad for her in the beginning. Suffering a broken heart must be devastating. But after what she'd done today, he had no mercy and felt no pity towards this woman. She had called this upon herself and could've expected it.

Ino's expression fell and she turned around, quite nervously. "Y-you don't believe him, do you? Really, after what he did." She asked Shikamaru desperately.

Shikamaru blinked. He stood up and watched his friend with a frown. After a second his gaze switched to Neji and their eyes caught.

Neji didn't move nor did he say anything. Shikamaru was watching him, analyzing him and judging if he indeed believed Neji.

After just a few seconds Shikamaru looked at Ino again. "I believe him, Ino." He said softly.

For a second the blonde watched her friend quietly. She bit her lip softly and tears filled her eyes as she realized this was it. Even though her plan hadn't worked Shikamaru had seen Kiba and Neji kissing and he still choose the Hyuuga over her.

"I…" She started but shook her head. "Fine, I get it." She said and raised her head proudly. "I love you Shikamaru."

But a sad, tired sigh passed her lips not a few seconds later. She fell to her knees, and it seemed as if she now just realized what she had actually done. "I got selfish, I tried to break the two of you up." She confessed and looked up at Shikamaru. "I'm sorry, Shikamaru! So sorry."

Shikamaru stood frozen on his spot. He understood the situation but wished he didn't. His best friend had betrayed him, not his lover and he didn't know whether to be relieved or not. Because either way it was bad.

He took a breath and turned to look at Neji, sounding his reaction.

Neji had taken a step back, respectfully giving Ino some room and Shikamaru understood that Neji was doing this for him. Giving him an opportunity to do whatever he wished with Ino, to fix his friendship or break it.

Shikamaru felt his heart swell at the selfless gesture because he knew Neji was enraged with the blonde kunoichi. And of course, the Hyuuga had all right to be and to say he himself wasn't angry at all would be a lie.

"Stand up, Ino." Shikamaru asked, turning his eyes back to his friend.

The blonde scrambled to her feet and watched her friend through lowered lashes.

When Shikamaru hit the girl in the face even Neji was surprised. But Shikamaru's lips were set in a thin line and he looked at Ino with a dismayed expression.

"You did betray me and I didn't think you would do such things, Ino." He said. "And if you value our friendship, or what's left of it, even a bit you leave Neji and me alone. I am happy with him, let us be. You are better than degrading yourself like this, you troublesome girl."

Ino was biting her lip, tears falling down her cheeks and knowing there wasn't a thing she could do about the situation nodded. "I- are we still friends?" She asked quietly.

Shikamaru didn't know what to say. Of course he wanted to uphold his friendship with Ino but he had to admit he was stunned she had actually gone this far.

"I need to think about that, I'm sorry." He said and Ino nodded.

"I understand." She whispered.

They sat on the couch.

The moment they had gotten back to Shikamaru's apartment Shikamaru sunk down upon it and hadn't bothered to get up.

Neji had sat down on the other end of the couch, giving his boyfriend some space to think things through. This afternoon must've been quite the shock for Shikamaru and even though Neji wanted to do nothing but envelop his lover in his arms he didn't know whether it was a good idea or not.

Knowing Shikamaru and the way he usually wanted to handle emotional-situations he'd rather be left alone and Neji respected that. But as he had said a few nights ago, they were in a relationship and things should be figured out together.

So if Shikamaru wanted to touch him or not, Neji stayed. Because even though the man was now confused about his friendship with Ino there was still something Neji wanted to tell the other.

Because Shikamaru had felt betrayed by Neji kissing Kiba. He had believed Neji would kiss Kiba and had run before Neji could ask what kind of thoughts were running through Shikamaru's brain then.

"Neji?" Shikamaru asked suddenly.

Neji raised his head, watching the Nara with a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes?"

"If I decide to stay friends with Ino…" He trailed off, turning his head away with a frown marring his features while staring at the couch.

Neji swallowed. During their walk to Shikamaru's apartment he had already decided that if Shikamaru wished to still be friends with Ino he could be. He wouldn't like it and it would probably take a long time before he felt comfortable around Ino again but he felt he couldn't deny Shikamaru this.

The Nara had been friends with Ino ever since he was little and if Shikamaru loved him enough to put up with his family and go through hurtful and degrading conversations with family-members that wanted nothing more than to break them up, he would put up with Ino.

With this decided, Neji turned and crawled to the other side of the couch. He embraced Shikamaru, his hands tugging out the hair-tie and his hands burying themselves in the silky hair. "If you stay friends with Ino she better not try anything again." He said with a smirk.

Shikamaru's eyes widened for a few seconds before he smiled gratefully. "Neji -"

"Don't thank me yet." The Hyuuga said, his smirk gone. In his opinion, it was bet to get this over with right away. "You thought I was cheating on you." He accused his boyfriend.

Shikamaru's eyes widened and then sighed. "I know." He admitted. "And I'm sorry. I do trust you it's just…" Shikamaru turned away and worried his lip with his teeth.

Neji frowned.

That 'but' sounded like it was something he had done to have Shikamaru doubt him, if only for a second.

He thought back on everything. Kiba had flirted with him before he had gotten together with Shikamaru. True, he had returned the gesture but he was sure everyone had seen Kiba stomping back inside the room after Neji had told him nothing was going to happen.

Afterwards the only encounter he knew of was Kiba asking them if they were ready to come to dinner. And Neji himself hadn't been exactly hospital towards the other man that day.

That led him to believe it must be something else.

And suddenly something came to him. He looked up and pulled his hands out of Shikamaru's hair, brushing one of his hands across Shikamaru's cheek with a small smile.

"I've never said it, have I?" He asked.

Shikamaru looked at him and chuckled. "No, but it's all right. I'm stupid and I should know already. You defied your clan for -"

But the Nara was interrupted when soft, pink lips descended upon his.

Neji moved his lips against Shikamaru's tenderly for a few moments, his free hand gently taking hold of the Nara's waist and maneuvering himself into the other's lap.

He allowed his tongue to teasingly lick his lover's slightly chapped lips and desire shot through his body as it always did when Shikamaru's tongue came out to tease his own.

One of Shikamaru's hands buried itself in his long hair and Neji turned into the touch.

After a few more blissful moments Neji pulled away though, he still had something to say before things got too far and his brain became too clouded with the lust that was already swirling through his body.

"Neji?" Shikamaru asked, slightly confused by the current situation.

But Neji just smirked and cupped Shikamaru's cheeks with his hands. "I never told you while I should have." He started and placed a quick peck against his lover's lips. "I love you. You asked if you had succeeded in capturing my heart and you have, Shika."

A small gasp passed Shikamaru's lips before happy laughter escaped him. He then hugged Neji, drew the Hyuuga close to his chest and buried his face in the long hair. "Neji, oh Neji." He murmured.

Neji smirked and turned his head to the side a little. He had been so shy when he had just gotten together with Shikamaru. But now after several sexual encounters with his boyfriend and the confidence of knowing he was loved he felt so much more sure of himself.

He nuzzled the sensitive skin behind Shikamaru's ear and afterwards licked it with a teasing smirk. "Want to celebrate our love?" He asked teasingly.

TBC.

Note: Short chapter but I'm sure the next one will make up for it.