AUTHORS NOTE: Okay, little warning, this is only Beta'd by me. I wanted to upload for you guys, but Cherry didn't have the time to do beta on this, so I took her suggestions and tried to make the best of it. Please forgive me for any mistakes that I missed.

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Hidden Feelings, Hidden Lives

Chapter 44: Not Off To A Good Start

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As they walked up to the gate, an uneasy silence between them, they found Neji waiting.

"You're late," His words were not directed at the copy ninja, knowing the man would have been late anyway, but Shino's tardiness apparently annoyed the Hyuga.

"I apologize for the delay," Shino gave the other a little nod, hoping it would suffice.

It seemed to be enough, as the Hyuga turned to leave.

Kakashi, quickly catching up to the younger man, placed a hand on his shoulder, "Wait a minute, Neji."

As the younger man complied, he continued, "I realize I may not seem like myself right now, but I can assure you that it won't affect my ability to complete this mission."

Neji did not turn to him, did not look at him as he grudgingly answered the silver-haired man, "I understand," Teeth clenched he waited for the hand to be lifted again, but Kakashi did not seem inclined to reluinquish his hold just yet.

Gripping tighter for a moment, he pondered his options. He could either explain himself to the Hyuga - or not.
The latter being the easiest route to take, all though it would also most likely entail the younger man watching him intently for the duration of their mission.
Something he'd rather not experience.

On the other hand, if he were to come out to this boy, there really was no way of knowing what would happen next – something Kakashi didn't exactly care for either.

He sighed, "Neji..." Dropping his hand from the younger's shoulder, he moved to shove both hands deep inside his pockets. Looking up at the sky, he started again, "If you want... I'll tell you," He spoke softly, still unsure if he'd made the right call or called forth his doom.

"If you wanted to, you'd have told me already," The Hyuga walked off, leaving Kakashi feeling – what exactly?

He's not a kid anymore, like Shikamaru he's too smart for that. Like I was, too.
And with all those brains comes the added bonus of social awkwardness... But I can't put my finger on it with Neji...

He started walking too, quickly joined by Shino as the Aburame apparently decided he was going to walk next to him, "Are you going to run interferance?"

"No, you were right. It is your decision to make, however..." He fell silent, and remained that way for several minutes.

Kakashi made no move to pressure the other into continuing his sentence, knowing the boy was most likely pondering how to phrase whatever is was he had to say to him.

Eventually, the Aburame sighed, an unusual gesture for him to make.
The jounin looked over at him, wondering what could've caused the younger man to break his usual stoic demeanor.

"Kakashi-sensei –"

"Kakashi, just Kakashi's fine," he interupted, not feeling like a sensei at all.

"Very well, Kakashi, I believe it unwise to speak with Neji about anything personal right now. He is undoubtebly annoyed at this time, and it wil cause him to react in a most unpleasant way. I've experienced this myself."

Kakashi could feel his eyebrows moving to somewhere around his hairline, wondering what the boy had told the Hyuga while the other was annoyed, but he didn't ask.
Privacy was a precious commodity after all.

"I see... Still..."

They walked on quietly after that, Neji somewhere ahead, but not so far off that they would lose sight of one another, the other two trailing behind caught in another awkward silence.
Kakahsi hated this mission already...

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They'd stopped for lunch, finding a small meadow next to the path they'd been following.
As each of them unpacked their respective food, Kakashi studied both his teammates. He would excuse himself shortly, never staying around so others could see his face while he ate.
He knew the other two were aware of this, both of them having been on several missions with the silver-haired jounin already.
As he closed his backpack, he stood, only to have his words cut off by Neji's soft tone.

"Please stay."

"Excuse me?" The jounin flustered, this hadn't happend to him in many, many years.

"I said, please stay," The younger didn't look up at him, instead moving to take a bite out of his onigiri.

"Neji, I don't do that. You know I don't, so why do you ask me to stay all of the sudden?"

Shino swallowed, feeling the awkwardness of the situation soar. This was not going to be a pleasant mission at all. If even lunch proved to be this uncomfortable, how would he last for three more days on the road like this?

"I ask you to stay, because I want you to stay," A pale finger gracefully wiped at the stray grain of rice lingering on his lips, before he moved to take another bite.

"And why is that?"

The hand containing the onigiri dropped, having never met thin lips again, "You told me you would explain if I wanted you to. I do."

"Not over lunch, I won't. I'm hungry," He sounded exactly as baffled as he felt right now, not even attempting to hide it.

"Then eat. I won't look. Would you look, Shino?"

The Aburame swallowed again, feeling uneasy with the way this conversation was going, "I would not," He offered, shifting ever so slightly.

Neji smiled, there wasn't any joy in his smile, though it did look rather victorious.
"Eat. Explain. Don't make me ask again."

Slowly, Kakashi placed his bag back on the grass, feeling anger overcome his anxiety, "You are not the boss of me, Neji Hyuga," He said softly, but with a definate hint of the anger that was now coursing through his veins.

The Hyuga simply smiled again, not saying a word as he took another bite from his onigiri.

"I'll be back soon," Kakashi picked up his bag. Turning on his heels he dissapeared between the trees.

"You should not have done that, Neji."

There was but a little accusation in the Aburame's voice. He really didn't want to make the situation any worse, but he also felt bad for the retreating man.

"He offered, I accepted, he left," Another grain of rice was elegantly removed, "The man is a coward," He sneered.

"He is not," Shino responded, trying to focus on his own food.

But that proved impossible as Neji suddenly got to his feet, following in the direction that Kakashi had left. "Neji," He frowned, "Please return."

His call was ignored as the other kept walking, detemination in his step.

Once Neji had passed the first trees, he called out, "Kakashi, where are you?"
Startling as he heard a soft reply coming from immediatly above, "Here."

Looking up, the Hyuga noted that the mask was being pulled up, averting his gaze for a moment to allow the other this little comfort.

When he heard feet touch down behind him, he turned around, "Explain yourself," He all but growled, "I'm not in the mood for your shenanigans."

Kakashi looked genuinly hurt, "It's not shenanigans, I was hungry..."

"We told you we wouldn't look, making the excuse redundand," Neji sighted in obvious discomfort before adding, "I'm sorry, I'm not in the best of moods today. This mission... I don't want to go back there, but that actually isn't the real issue..."

Kakashi hesitated but a moment, "Then what is?"

A wry smile graced the younger's lips, "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

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Shikamaru lay face down on his bed. He really should be packing right now, but he didn't feel like it.

Ways to tell Gai, ways to tell Gai without getting him drunk... Ways to-
Wait a minute! That could work!

He pushed himself up, going over to his desk to check something.
Yes, I was right. A moonless night... That could work...
No wait, stupid idea. Just because they won't
see each other won't make it any easier...
Back to the drawingboard it is...

Maybe we could- No, that's stupid...
Hmmm...

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