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: Profanity is present, as always. And to all who reviewed! Thank you so much: ) On with the fic!

Chapter 5

"Man, why do you have to come with me?"

"Do you think I want to? I'm being forced."

"So pesky."

"Hn."

Nara Shikamaru and Hyuuga Neji walked side by side across the hall. They went to the Anbu office because Shikamaru had to submit a leave for his engagement. Shikamaru wore the usual outfit of a Jounin, preferring the more conservative clothes than the usual Anbu outfit. Neji on the other hand still wore a kimono. This time, a lilac kimono with soft patterns of flowers everywhere and an obi with darker lilac color.

Shikamaru and Neji went to a room where high-ranking Anbu officers stayed. Casual hellos and acknowledgements welcomed both of them. Shikamaru went to the head staff who sat at the large table across the room. Shikamaru greeted the gentle faced head Anbu casually.

"Hey Shikamaru! What brought you here?"

"I have to get a form to fill for my leave." Shikamaru replied lazily as ever. Instead of sleeping some twelve hours of sleep he badly needed, here he was asking for a leave because he's getting engaged.

"Leave? For what?"

"I'm getting engaged."

Silence filled the room as some occasional breaking of coffee mugs and dropped weapons echoed. Even the look on the head Anbu's face definitely passed for disbelief. Here we go again, Shikamaru thought wryly. First the shock, then the congratulations and all that jazz. Three, two, one.

"Wow, Nara! You're getting married!"

"You're so lucky! So who's the lucky girl who caught your lazy heart, huh?"

Uhh, actually he's a man. Come to think of it, he never actually thought about what circumstances might lead to knowing he's engaged to a man.

"Wait! When's your wedding?"

"Hey Nara! I expect an invitation for all of us okay?"

"Hey! You didn't bring your fiancée with you?"

"Yeah Shikamaru! Where's she? You can't hide her forever!"

"Shika! Why not a little party later on? Let's celebrate!"

"Yeah! A celebration because the laziest of us is getting married! I can't believe it, Shikamaru!"

See? Shikamaru already knew what was coming. He sighed with defeat. He wanted to get out of the room quick. Wait… where's Neji? He said that he'd wait for him near the door. He turned around only to be welcomed by flailing arms here and there grabbing him, patting him on the head, giving him healthy punches on the arm.

"Hey! Get off me. Neji! Oi Neji, are you still in this room?" Shikamaru shouted making the room silent for the second time. Ugh, this was so pesky.

"I'm here." Came a reply amongst the throng of Anbus. Some Anbus parted apart and there was Neji, cheeks burning and still standing near the door. For Neji the scene was horrendous. He didn't know such highly respected officers could instantly turn to raging chimps upon knowing that one of them is getting married. Most of the faces he saw were unfamiliar for him (duh, anti-social, remember!). And worst of all, he was being squished in a corner by hooligans. He could definitely feel that almost everyone in the room knew Shikamaru—actually more likely famous. And he could already guess why—because of his laziness. Most of them were regaled that the lazy nin was getting married.

Shikamaru already got the form. He decided to fill it up in a more peaceful place and he definitely knew that Neji was already uncomfortable with such a crowd. He needed to get the two of them out of here, fast.

"Let's go." Shikamaru said as he traversed the room and stood beside the longhaired nin.

"Oi Shikamaru! Wait!"

Shikamaru and Neji stopped in their tracks. Shikamaru sighed perpetually irritated already. Wasn't that enough? He never knew getting to be engaged was so capital troublesome. He scratched the back of his head and turned; his bovine expression perfectly plastered on his face.

"Yeah?"

"Who's that?"

"Hey, isn't he one of the Anbu officers, too?"

"He's a Hyuuga, I can see."

"He looks cute with the kimono."

"Yeah, I agree with you."

"Oi Nara! Who is—wait… don't tell me…he's your fiancée!"

Shikamaru could already sense the uneasy state Neji was in. He couldn't blame the aristocratic bastard. Such uncivilized conduct he just saw in this room could make any elite person faint.

"Oi Nara! Will we just go? I can't stand to be in the same room with such unethical… beings." Neji stated with agitation.

"Oi Neji! Will you shu—"

"Why? It is true." Neji said with a smirk as he scanned the room, Anbus staring at them. "Such bastards. I wonder how the hell were they accepted as Anbus."

Shikamaru clasped a hand across his forehead. Man, Neji's mouth is so troublesome. And the Hyuuga feared no one! He wasn't in the right mood to start a tiff with anyone right now. Especially two dozens of Anbus in an almost claustrophobic room. Oh man. He was gong to be beaten because of a foul mouthed bastard. Oh, he meant his fiancée.

"God, Neji. You're such a bastard…."

An Anbu slowly walked towards them and Shikamaru instantly placed himself in front of Neji. As much as he wanted his bastardic fiancée to be beaten up, he also feared Hyuuga Hiashi's wrath.

"Uhh, wait…ahaha. Neji's in a rather foul moo—"

"Man, Shika! You have a cute fiancée!"

"Yeah he's an adorable one!"

"Quite fiery I would say but definitely pretty! How did you managed to get a beauty like this? I want one, too!"

"Yeah! Me too!"

"Oi Nara! You sure will be under the mercy of your fiancée, huh?"

"Hey! Is he good in bed?"

"Bet he is!"

A merry laughter and cheerful exchange of ideas filled the room and left Shikamaru dumbstruck. Was he seeing for real? Where were the punches? Kunais threw in his direction? Neji's voice woke him in his rather unattractive state.

"See, Nara? They are morons."

Shikamaru turned around and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I agree with you on that."

"Hn." Neji badly wanted to get out of the room already. He straightened his kimono a little and sighed with annoyance. Suddenly an arm wound to his shoulders surprisingly pulling him towards the owner of the limb.

"What the—"

"Hey, beautiful! What can you say about our lazy boy? What makes him attractive?"

"Get your hands off me." Neji said between clenched teeth. Just a little more and his patience would be erased on the face of the earth. One more….

"Ooohh, fiery one. Do you want to have a little drink with us?'

That. Was. It. Neji balled a fist and connected it with the said Anbu's face, straight and hard sending the man trotting backwards. Ah, the aphrodisiac of fighting. Neji missed the feeling of triumph. Come on bring them on. He needed not to use his Byakugan on such wimps.

"O-oi! Neji!" Shikamaru was surprised with Neji's reaction. Neji was REALLY pissed. An unnecessary brawl would cost him his leave! Can't the bastard see that! Argh! He needed to take Neji out of here. NOW. "Stop it, you bastard! It'll cost me my leave!"

"Don't tell me what to do! And who are you calling a bastard, you BASTARD!" Neji was fed up. He was impatient to kill everyone in the room. His next banter was promptly put to a halt when a hand was placed on his shoulder. "What!"

Without hesitation, dozens of Anbus flocked around Neji wanting to embrace him and kiss him. Shikamaru stood there stunned. Really, he shouldn't be coming up with such gory thoughts that wouldn't happen. 'Expect the worst' should be paraphrased as 'expect the weirdest.'

"Get off me, motherfucking bastards!"

"Awww so cute! I want to kiss you!"

"Stop it! Don't touch me!"

"So pretty and fierce!"

"I said sto—" A hand grabbed Neji's arm pulling him away from the crowd of Neji-obsessed Anbus. "Hey! Let go of—" Neji was dragged towards the door and out of the room.

"Oi Neji, are you okay?"

Neji glared at his 'savior.' With flushed cheeks and hair disheveled, the glare looked less taunting. "Do I look okay to you!"

"Well you could at least say thank you." Shikamaru grimly said. Man, no matter how aristocratic and elite Neji was, his manners were far from the line of good breeding.

"You don't deserve such." Neji said still gasping for some air. Shikamaru held Neji's wrist and started to walk.

"Where the hell are we going? And let go of me!" Neji shouted but it came out as a plea. He was enervated. Who the hell wouldn't be when a throng of men are trying to harass you!

Shikamaru stopped making Neji bump on his back accompanied with a soft growl of pain. Shikamaru released Neji's wrist and pointed at a door.

"What are we doing here?"

Shikamaru fished his handkerchief and gave it to Neji. "Go clean yourself. I also have some dignity and I don't want my soon to be fiancée looking like a rape victim."

Neji scowled at the statement as he roughly grabbed the cloth. "If you tried to get us out of that room sooner then I wouldn't be an embarrassment to my fiancé."

———-

Fifteen minutes had passed after Neji emerged from the restroom looking like a new doll. They were currently seated in front of the Hokage. Shikamaru already filled up the form and the last thing he would have to do was submit it to the Hokage. The lazy nin threw a sidelong glance at Neji who sat beside him. Neji looked tired already. He almost pitied the Hyuuga for such traumatic experience that occurred a few moments ago.

"So you are engaged." Tsunaded looked up from the form Shikamaru handed.

Shikamaru nodded because opening his mouth would tire him more. Tsunade took a good look at Shikamaru then at Neji. She placed the form on the desk and clasped her hands together to support her chin.

Shikamaru tried his best to suppress a yawn but it still escaped as a sigh. He glanced again at Neji and saw the same tired look. The poor Hyuuga, they still had an appointment today after this. Hmm… Shikamaru thought that maybe he should cancel it for today. Wait a shitty minute? When the hell did he start caring for the bastard? Argh!

"Nara Shikamaru." Tsunade spoke cutting Shikamaru's thoughts. "I never thought you're into… well, men."

Shikamaru was definitely not ready for that. Just to refresh your memory, Nara Shikamaru never took pleasure in dating or anything a normal man would do. Sure he'd met many girls in the past and most of them were aesthetically beautiful. But not an ounce of attraction would bore his lazy emotions for the past years. Yeah, yeah well his dad kept on teasing him about Ino. For goodness' sake! Ino's mouth's a machine gun! No one knew how long his suicidal tendencies were when he, Ino and Chouji were grouped as genins. Thank heavens you don't have to stay as a group until the ends of the earth. As for his sexuality, Shikamaru didn't mind such notion at all. He was never attracted to anyone so he couldn't place himself as purely heterosexual. Maybe he was bisexual or even homosexual since he has always thought of women as loud and annoying as Ino. For Nara Shikamaru, Ino is the epitome of women. He now looked directly at Hyuuga Neji who didn't seem to notice his stare.

What about Neji? Well, as much as he didn't want to admit, Neji gave him his first uh, sexual discomfort. And as much as how obnoxious the bastard can be he also liked Neji's control over his privacy. If only Neji's personality isn't so stubborn and pesky and troublesome, they might have been good friends or… more than that. What the fuck! Argh! Where the hell could that heaven-forbid evil thought come from?

"Nara. Nara!" Tsunade snapped but not before she noticed Shikamaru's intense gaze lingering on the Hyuuga. She smiled slyly but quickly hid it. She needed to be composed and act more like a respectable Hokage. Thank all the Hokages that Shizune wasn't with her or she might have gone ballistic. Didn't you know? Tsunade can be a pervert, too. And she's much worse than Jiraiya. Heheheh. She sure wouldn't let this event pass.

"What!" Shikamaru retorted. As much as he wanted to respect Tsunade, he simply couldn't. He's just like Naruto (but Naruto's more impudent) whenever he came face to face with the Hokage. Man, why does everything have to be troublesome? Oops, he forgot, Tsunade's a girl. And girls are troublesome.

"I asked you if both of your parents approved of your relationship."

"They are." They're actually more excited than we are, Shikamaru wanted to add but it would cost him more saliva.

Tsunade nodded at Shikamaru's reply and turned her attention at Neji. "Hyuuga Neji, are you sure you want to marry Nara? Don't you know how loud he snores and how bad his hy—"

"Oi! Wait a min—"

"I don't care." That statement made Tsunade and Shikamaru shut up. Neji raised his head, trying to suppress his impatience. "I'm not marrying him because of his habits or anything."

Tsunade raised a brow. This is quite interesting to be ignored. "Oh? Then why?"

"I'm marrying him because I have deep affections for Nara. And I believe he does, too." Neji said nonchalantly.

Right. The ever calm and reserved Hyuuga Neji. Always full of unending surprises. Of course he knew Neji couldn't enunciate the cursed three words without flinching so he opted for 'deep affections.' Ch. He could only imagine Neji staying up late thinking of what kind of tactics he should use and Shikamaru was quite sure that statement has been practiced for many times. Just plain apathetic words.

"And I do believe that, too." Tsunade said looking more interested than the usual. With that, Neji and Shikamaru stood up and walked towards the door side by side. Tsunade called again, a slight amusement seeping through her voice.

"Chotto matte, Nara and Hyuuga." Tsunade said. "Here is one of my experiments. Try it and tell me the results." She threw the object at Neji who effortlessly caught it.

"What's this?" Neji asked and eyed the small jar that looked like a jar for petroleum jelly.

"Read it." Tsunade said composedly when in fact she was already itching to see the couple's expression. She almost let out a snicker.

Neji turned around the jar as Shikamaru stepped closer to him, trying to look what it was. Neji saw an inscription on a paper pasted on the jar. The letters were quite small so he had to squint to read it properly.

"Tsu…nade's, what's this? Special… luke? Lude?" When Neji realized what the hell the jar's content was his body was already convulsing with enough anger to massacre half of Konoha's populace. More than his pernicious intent he thought he was going to faint with mortification and insanity.

"What's that?" Shikamaru asked and grabbed the jar from Neji and read the inscription quite loudly. "Tsunade's… special… lube?" He looked at Neji and cursed silently forgetting Tsunade's inclination for pranks and well, perverseness. He grabbed Neji exactly before the Hyuuga lunged at the Hokage who was already releasing some giggles.

"I'm going to kill you!" Neji seethed. He was never this angry and humiliated! And by the oh-what-did-I-do and I'm-innocent Tsunade's expression wore, Neji wanted to tear that face which was covered by dozens of layers of make up. "You old hag!"

"Stop it Neji! What the—OW!" Shikamaru growled as he successfully nudged Neji out of the Hokage's office while sporting a hard jab on his abdomen. No thanks to the berserk Hyuuga.

—--

"Why did you let her do that!" Neji snarled at Shikamaru. They were now outside the Anbu office and nearing the park. Shikamaru thought he might go deaf with all of Neji's rants. So bothersome.

"Well you almost destroyed my one week vacation if you haven't realized. Not once but twice. Oh man, this is so troublesome" Shikamaru lazily replied. He turned his head and looked at Neji who managed to control his outrage for awhile with a large exhalation. Their next appointment would be at the kimono tailor. Shikamaru vaguely knew how bothersome and tiring fitting kimonos were thanks to Ino's complaints annually how she has to put up with her mother encouraging her to attend soirees to meet other men who doesn't bore the name Uchiha Sasuke. "Oi Neji, do you want to cancel our appointment with the tailor? I'll take you home; you look like a zombie already." Damn it! He shouldn't have said the last sentence! Now Neji's looking at him as if he just surrendered his indolence.

The lazy nin squirmed under Neji's you're-weird-look and suddenly found the ice cream stand five meters away interesting. He wanted to scratch the back of his head but he seemed too shy (WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!) to do some movements. Just then, an arm curled around one of his pocketed arms making him slightly jolt. Shikamaru turned to see Neji standing closer (DAMN IT!) to him with a rather small amused smile grazing his lips.

"Didn't know you cared." Neji said without malice, ignoring the homely remark about him looking like a zombie. But Shikamaru thought better than that.

"I don't." Was the lazy nin's irritated reply.

TBC

A/N: I'm so sorry! I know you've waited for almost a month and you've just read pure crap! I'm so sorry! Sorry but reviews would be nice... make my day! I'm dying with all the school work here. : (