Engagement Trouble

Summary: Neji's in super trouble and Shikamaru came to his rescue, well, accidentally. NejiShika.

Disclaimer: Neji belongs to Shikamaru and vice versa and Naruto is not mine.

A/N: Sorry for the late update and thank you so much for reviewing.

Chapter 4

"A miracle, you followed."

"Yeah, a true miracle why I put up with you."

Hyuuga Neji turned to face Shikamaru who was absently scratching the back of his head. They were inside the Hyuuga mansion already and were walking towards the reception room. Neji stopped in his tracks, the smug expression never leaving his face.

"What?" Shikamaru asked lazily. Man, he never should've spoken. It was costing him more energy than necessary.

Neji outstretched his arms, about to reach for Shikamaru when the lazy nin stepped backwards.

"Oi, Neji… what the hell are you—"

"I also have dignity, Nara." Neji said while grabbing the lazy nin closer and arranged Shikamaru's vest. "We are a couple and I don't want my soon to be fiancé looking like a deranged man."

Irritated with Neji's criticisms, Shikamaru slapped Neji's hands a little forcefully. "Then try to act a little more like having one, Neji-sama."

"Hn." Neji's lips tightened. He again started to walk Shikamaru behind him and stopped in front of two sliding doors. When Shikamaru stopped beside him, he offered his left hand.

"What?" Shikamaru asked as he eyed the extended hand.

"Take my hand." Neji said seriously.

Shikamaru's brow rose. "Why should I?"

Neji sighed. "Because Nara Shikamaru, you dimwitted nin, my uncle is a keen observer of body language. Now from the look on our faces, even a blind man could sense the animosity between us and if my uncle sensed that, you and I are dead."

"I won't take it." Shikamaru said as he pocketed his hands.

"What the hell did you say!"

"Are you deaf?" This was so troublesome, why did he even bother to talk. The truth is Neji gained Shikamru's respect. Compared to Ino, Neji can make him prattle and counter insults. He has been denying it since yesterday but he is quite enjoying their little war.

"Fuck it, Nara! Give me your hand!" Neji grabbed Shikamaru's arm and tried to pry the hand away from the pocket but Shikamaru wouldn't budge. After some hard pulls, Neji was able to haul Shikamaru's hand free and entwined his own hand with it.

"Give it back!" Shikamaru hissed and tried to free his hand from Neji's grasp.

"No! Shut up, Nara!"

"Shit! I said give it back!"

"Fuck off! Just be—ow!"

"Release my hand!"

"That's it you asshole! You son of a—"

"Neji? Is that you?"

Neji and Shikamaru stopped dead from what they were about to do. Shikamaru was already positioning a kunai over their entwined hands while Neji's Byakugan is already itching to destroy all of Shikamaru's chakra points.

Silent and soft steps were heard before the sliding doors opened apart; Hyuuga Hiashi appeared. "What are the two of you doing?" Hiashi questioned upon seeing the kunai and Neji's Byakugan activated.

"Uh well… uhmm…" Neji didn't have an answer. They were dead. He was so dead.

"Shikamaruuu!"

Neji and Shikamaru blinked thinking to whose voice it belonged. Neji had no idea who called Shikamaru but the lazy nin definitely knew who was calling him.

"Oh man… so bothersome…."

Hyuuga Hiashi sidestepped and there stood a middle-aged woman whose features were of a good-natured, loving and doting mother. She walked towards Shikamaru and faced her son with a serious expression.

"Uhmmm, mom…," Shikamaru spoke, his hand still entwined with Neji's completely forgotten. "I-I can explain…."

"My beloved son!" Shikamaru's mother's expression changed from serious to a happy one as she embraced her son lovingly. "My son is getting married!"

"Uh mom… how did you know I was—" Shikamaru was really in for the day. Why was he expecting rants and recrimination when they saw his 'engagement' with the Hyuuga a miracle?

"Oh that! Well you owe me an explanation, young man. If it wasn't for Ino who went to our house this morning, then I wouldn't have the slightest idea that you're already engaged!"

"This is so troublesome…." Shikamaru uttered under his breath. He forgot that Ino's mouth is a nonstop machine of gossips and news. He should've known better.

"You must be Neji!" Shikamaru's mother spoke softly as she turned to face Neji.

"Uhmm… yes." Neji replied, his cheeks slightly burning. He doesn't know how to act in front of people—much more his 'soon-to-be-mother-in-law'! He was anti-social for goodness' sake! And—wait! Wait! Wait! Why the hell was Nara's mother here in their house? And if he guessed correctly, Nara's mother was with his uncle before he and Shikamaru appeared. That means… oh god no!

"Such a beautiful lad!" Shikamaru's mom said as she gently cupped Neji's face. "Shika! You have such an adorable fiancée!"

Neji reddened more upon hearing the compliments. He was literally ignorant when it comes to family gatherings and meeting people, much more when taking compliments.

"Why don't we take a seat for a moment?" Hiashi spoke and ushered them inside the room. Neji sat beside his uncle while Shikamaru and his mother sat across them, a low table separating the two parties.

"Thank you for having me here, Hiashi-sama." Shikamaru's mother said gently with a smile.

"We will be in-laws in the near future. Please call me Hiashi." Hiashi spoke with a smile grazing his lips as well. It was that obvious that Neji's uncle and Shikamaru's mother were excited and happy. Neji and Shikamaru didn't like the tone they were subtly implying behind those words.

Shikamaru's mother smiled affectionately at Shikamaru then Neji, making the latter lower his head and tried to hide the creeping blush. "Then Hiashi-san, you may call me Satsutori, Tori for short."

"Very well then, Tori-san." Hiashi smiled. "Then let's get straight to the point now, shall we? Shikamaru-kun and Neji, we've decided that your formal engagement will be three days from now."

"Three days from now!" Neji and Shikamaru blurted simultaneously as they faced the person beside them.

"Yes, three days from now." Hiashi confirmed.

"B-but it's too early!" Neji spoke, panic starting to be evident in his voice. He wasn't ready for this! Damn engagement! He really should've opted for his uncle's choice! Now brewing trouble was already chasing him! Neji looked at Shikamaru and tired to plead for some support.

"N-neji's right, mom! It's too early for us to be married! Why do you want us to get married so badly?" Shikamaru reasoned. TROUBLESOME!

Nara Tori laughed softly and place a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder. "Shika, you're not yet getting married! It's only an engagement! Now who's itching to tie the knot?"

Neji and Shikamaru sank on their seats with red faces. Hiashi and Tori laughed heartily upon seeing their expressions.

"I've learned my lesson when it comes to engagement plans." Hiashi declared with a smile. "I gave Hinata the permission to plan for her own marriage and look! She's engaged but wedding plans are as far as heaven!"

"I agree with you, Hiashi-san. Our children these days don't know the value of time. Can't they see that we are already waiting for our grandchildren? We're ready to be grandparents!"

"Yes, yes. I believe I also want that kind of disposition now that they can already start a family of their own. It looks like their afraid of marriage, don't you think?"

"Yes, it seems they are. I wonder why…."

"Uncle…."

"Mom…"

"What?" Hiashi and Tori asked.

"We're not yet ready!" Neji and Shikamaru answered.

"Of course you're not ready!" Tori said. "That's why we're giving you three days for the preparation!"

"So you better make use of it." Hiashi added.

Neji and Shikamaru looked at each other before lowering their heads in defeat. Neji's world was whirling. Three days. Only three days to escape this plan. He thought that he was saved when he made the plan with Nara, but disaster was the ultimate effect of it.

"Then three days it will be." Neji stated defiantly leaving his uncle and Shikamaru's mom delighted and Shikamaru fearing for the worst in the next three days of his life.

TBC

A/N: Yes, Hinata's engaged. To whom? You'll find sooner or later. I also have an announcement about my on going fics. Just check my homepage and read it. You can definitely kill me.