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: Thank you for all the reviews!
Chapter 7
Ino, Chouji and Asuma were surely eyeing him weirdly. In Shikamaru's opinion either they were suppressing their laughter or they were mocking him. Shikamaru's pout grew longer as he raised an eyebrow at his former team.
"What!"
"What what?" Ino replied with glee.
"You guys said you wanted to see me. Here I am but for thirty minutes you wouldn't even say anything. What? Have you gone mute?" Shikamaru said with irritation.
Ino spoke again relishing on the lay nin's exasperation. "So Shikamaru, what happened yesterday, huh?" Shikamaru could almost hear Ino's excitement as she asked. Chouji's chewing grew faster and Shikamaru was afraid he might choke on any minute. Asuma's drag on his cigarette grew longer. Boy, where they expecting something.
"Nothing happened yesterday." Only he tried to kiss Neji and what he got in return was this painful swell on his cheek. Nice one, isn't it? That was the answer his ex-teammates wanted to hear and he wouldn't let them relish on that contretemps. "What? You want to know what Neji and I did yesterday?"
"YES!" The three chorused quite cheerfully. Asuma was already jabbing him on his side.
"Come on, Shikamaru. I know you're lazy but no one's lazy in bed." Asuma said with a grin. Ino and Chouji were nodding in agreement.
Shikamaru sighed in annoyance. Trouble wasn't leaving his side. Not only does he have to suffer from Neji's nagging but he also had to deal with his ex-teammates who seemed to be too eager to know the advent of his sex life, which was still non-existent for that matter.
"I told you nothing happened yesterday. Neji fitted some kimonos for the engagement, that's all." Shikamaru said. What the hell were they thinking? That he was too impatient to wait for their wedding night (which he was sure wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it happen.) He felt for his cheek and cringe. Damn it was still aching. He already placed some ice and ointment on it last night to reduce the swelling and pain. Only the swelling was able to subside a little.
His former teammates saw his small action. Ino decided to speak. The blond was a blabber mouth so surely she's the most eager of the three. Shikamaru then imagined Ino's reaction if he revealed Sasuke's affair with ahem… another man. Shikamaru could already see the outcome if he did that: he would be cannibalized by Sasuke's fans—mainly the girls. Shudder.
"If nothing happened, how come you have that?"
"What that?" Shikamaru asked.
"This." Asuma said as he poked Shikamaru's cheek and successfully getting an obvious cringe and a string of curses from the lazy nin.
"I fell." Shikamaru lied. He was no good liar, he knew that but trying wouldn't hurt.
"Really…." Ino, Asuma and Chouji said slyly.
"Really." Shikamaru replied as he drank his tea.
"Maybe Shikamaru tried to kiss Neji." Chouji innocently said to Ino and Asuma. That caused Shikamaru to choke on his drink.
"That seems to be plausible." Ino said.
"No, I didn't!" Shikamaru said angrily.
His former teammates eyed him with suspicion making Shikamaru turn red. Guffaws could be heard even from outside of the restaurant.
-----
"Neji! Neji, my boy! Here!"
Neji looked towards the direction of the voice. He nodded and walked towards his former team. Gai still had his garish smile very similar to Lee. Tenten was smiling quite wider. The Hyuuga sat beside Gai.
"What's this all about?" Instead of having some rest, Neji got a note that morning that Gai and his former teammates wanted to see him. He knew better than to ignore his ex-team's invitation. Once before he did it; Gai and Lee went around Konoha hollering for his name like crazy. He didn't want that to happen again.
"Well, Neji since you are getting married…"
"Engaged." Neji corrected his sensei.
Gai ignored him. "… we've decided to give you a little celebration."
"I don't need it." Neji said.
"Oh come on, Neji." Tenten said across the table. "We also did this for Lee when he finally scored on Sakura. It's our team's tradition!"
"That's right, Neji. We should also celebrate for your engagement." Lee replied ever so courteously.
Thank you, Lee. At least someone got the celebration right but Neji didn't reply to that. He of all people didn't believe in love and it terribly surprised him that Sakura accepted Lee as his fiancé. Neji thought Sakura was pining for the Uchiha. What made the girl give up? Oh, rumors were recently flying around the village that Sasuke was having an affair with another man. Naruto, perhaps? Hn, he wasn't interested with other people's love affairs. He had his 'own' to worry.
His former teammates ordered the food they want courtesy of Gai's altruism. For the next hour all Neji's teammates did was plan for his engagement. He ignored them. Knowing his team, if he interrupted their seemingly absurd preparations intended for him, banter from his sensei would erupt predictably. He needed some rest today, not another round of headache. He would have to deal with all their follies next time.
Nara Shikamaru's face suddenly flooded Neji's mind and he gritted his teeth in annoyance of that bastard. He swore to give that Nara some piece of his mind. How dare he try to kiss him yesterday!
"Cheers to Neji's marriage and cheers to the youth of today! Kampai!" Gai emotionally declared as he raised his tea cup for a toast.
"Cheers." Lee and Tenten replied ever so cheerfully not noticing Neji absent look as a certain lazy nin uncontrollably clouded his thoughts.
-----
"Where the hell are we going!" Shikamaru, obviously irritated with his ex-team's excitement only made him angrier. First of all he should've remained in his room sulking all day and blaming Neji for what he did. What the hell did he do? Oh yeah, he almost kissed another guy. Not just another guy but a Hyuuga. And not just another Hyuuga but the genius Hyuuga Neji. If he were a common man aspiring for the unreachable dream, star, galaxy and other astrological bodies, he would've squealed with joy that he got close enough to the Hyuuga. No pun intended there. But of course, he wasn't that kind.
Anyway they were now walking along the busy street of Konoha. Ino, Chouji and Asuma were obviously planning something. He could smell it thickly in the air. Now what the hell was it? Not one of their pranks again. The last time his team did such, they made him go inside a cabaret together with Asuma; it wasn't a nice experience.
When Ino asked him how the 'women dancing in the poles' were, he merely shrugged and told her they were okay. Ino stood there shocked and instantly pointed a very accusing and insulting finger at Shikamaru as she declared without further ado, "You're gay!"
He almost forgot that not-so good experience until he saw the particular establishment as they passed by the place; thankfully, they didn't enter. It was broad daylight for heaven' sake. Then they stopped in front of a small restaurant.
"Are you going to eat again, Chouji?' Shikamaru asked his best friend who was munching on an apple.
"Nope." Was Chouji's surprisingly succinct reply.
Shikamaru turned to Asuma and asked, "Then what are we doing here?"
"There!" Asuma hollered completely ignoring Shikamaru's query. He turned to the direction his ex-teammates went and saw Gai talking quite lively with Asuma. Gai was there together with Lee, of course Tenten and… what the!
-----
They weren't finished with the meal yet when his former teammates suddenly hauled him upright and almost dragged him outside the restaurant. Neji looked like a victim walking towards his execution scaffold.
"What the hell are you doing!" Neji asked as he nudged Lee and Tenten's hands away from him.
"Gai!"
Neji looked towards his left and saw Asuma running towards them together with Ino and Chouji. Shikamaru's team, obviously. So they were planning such a tacky plan that abrasively worked. Who would've thought Gai and Asuma can be such effective managers for blind dates? Now, Neji's stuck with dimwits. Not to mention his beloved fiancé who seemed not so pleased with the situation. Well, the feeling's mutual you asshole.
"Neji!" Ino shrieked happily as she draped herself onto the cute doll-looking Neji in a simple grey yukata. She wished it was a kimono. Too bad… oh, well. At least she can exercise her yaoi imagination.
"Get your hands off me." Neji gritted through his teeth. What kind of woman was she? Argh! He simply detested her. Shikamaru thought the same.
Ino who became immune to Sasuke's retorts for the past years simply ignored Neji's threat. "Shikamaru's there. So what did you do yesterday, huh? Aside from fitting kimonos."
Neji thought about the attempted kiss. Here's the right time to expose such wrongdoing. Neji replied coolly, "Well Nara tried to k—"
"I tried to fit some yukatas, too." Shikamaru replied as he got closer to the group. Neji eyed him with anger, his cheeks slightly coloring.
"That's all?" Ino asked slyly trying to detect for the slightest reaction she could get from the couple.
Shikamaru eyed Neji to shut some things up. He was in no mood to answer all of Ino's death-defying dumb questions. And neither was he up with the group's teasing. Neji weighed his options and agreed to Shikamaru's silent deal.
"Yeah. That's all." Shikamaru replied upon seeing Neji's approval. "Get your hands off him now, Ino." Oops. Where the hell did that came from? He wanted to place a hand over his mouth but he was now too embarrassed to do it. Asuma and Gai who were too busy talking animatedly stopped their chitchat and looked at him peculiarly as if Shikamaru was starting to grow wings. Even Neji's former teammates looked surprised to the point of smiling. Neji didn't like what was going on so he was the one who removed Ino's arms off his shoulders.
"Did you hear that, Gai?" Asuma whispered to Gai with thrill.
"Oh, I heard it perfectly, Asuma. "Your boy is quickly turning into a fine young man! Oh the youth today!" Both men exchanged knowing looks. This calls for a celebration.
Lee smiled appreciatively at the comment Shikamaru made. Tenten nudged him softly and whispered, "Ne, Lee. So it's really true, huh?'
"I told you." Lee said with his pearly white smile. He pitied Neji. Tomorrow, the couple will surely be a hot and sizzling item.
Ino and Chouji looked at each other and smirked. Ino went to Neji and whispered, "You're lucky, Neji. In terms of brains and other assets."
Neji's pretty brows formed a crease as he looked at Ino's smirk. "Other assets?" What the hell was that all about?
"You know," Ino said in a normal volume. "His…."
Neji turned bright pink and turned his head to the opposite position. What kind of luckiness was that! Perverts! In a more calm voice, he replied coolly. "I'm not interested in that."
"Oh?" Ino asked. "But you will be in the future. Don't you notice it when Shikamaru sits and crosses his legs?"
The Hyuuga faced Ino and retorted coolly. "There will be no future and no, I don't and won't notice it." With that, Neji walked off, leaving the group behind. Shikamaru was ahead of him. The Nara said to follow him; they would probably plan on something about their engagement again. Sigh.
"Oh." Neji uttered softly as he found himself standing in one foot. His left slipper stuck in the mud behind him. It rained hard last night, come to think of it. He couldn't reach it, damn it. Now he will look like a hapless damsel in distress. Against his pride and burning face, he called out to the lazy nin.
"Nara!"
No reaction as the nin kept on walking.
"Shikamaru!" Neji shouted a little louder. "Wait!"
Shikamaru then heard it and turned around to see Neji semi-leaning onto a wall with his left foot raised a few inched off the muddy ground. He needed not to ask the Hyuuga what he wanted. He simply went over Neji, picked the stuck slipper behind and walked to the older boy's anterior. Shikamaru squatted in front of the long haired nin and reached for his ankle. Damn it, not only was he a fiancé, he was also an obedient lackey. What's next? Neji's slave in bed? What the!
Suddenly Shikamaru found himself lingering longer than necessary on holding Neji's ankle; all sexual fantasies instantly dissipated. Was it just his hands or was it Neji? It seemed quite impossible but there it was. Shikamaru could completely enclose his grip on Neji's ankle. Was Neji that thin beneath the kimonos he wore? The Nara boy suddenly had the urge to see Neji naked. Not of malicious thoughts but to know if Neji was that slender as what he could imagine.
"What?" Neji asked as he bended towards Shikamaru—placing a hand on Nara's broad shoulder—to balance himself.
"Nothing." Shikamaru replied as he placed the slipper on Neji's tabi-covered foot.
Then accidentally, Neji's eyes rested on Shikamaru's ehem and he almost let out a colorful spiel of profanity, his cheeks instantly turning pink. Oh god, it was pure accident. He never intended to see it! Now, he will be plagued by Ino's words. Argh….
"What are we going to talk about by the way?" Neji asked as he forced himself to divert his attention on anyone, anything other than that. Shikamaru stood from his position. Sigh, thank heavens.
"Mom wants you and your uncle to have dinner with us tomorrow night." Shikamaru declared just as what his mother wanted to hear him say. Neji was quite taken aback by the invitation. It was the first time he was invited into another's home. He was starting to get nervous. But the lingering thought of Shikamaru's certain giftedness lessened his concentration on their conversation.
"What time?" Neji asked eyeing a restaurant on his right.
Shikamaru shrugged. "Probably six. Yeah, six is fine."
Neji nodded and both men continued walking now side by side towards Neji's house. To Shikamaru it already became a routine for him to walk Neji home every time they meet each other on the road. It felt too natural he never complained once.
"How can you even say they're in love?" Tenten asked Ino who was already having some fits of giggles. All of them saw what transpired before their very eyes. Shikamaru helping Neji without an objection. Too weird but it was true.
"Wasn't that obvious?" Ino said cheerfully as she faced Tenten. Tenten replayed the scene in her mind and smiled a little.
"I suppose so." Too bad, and here she was thinking Neji was a man. Though she was disappointed with Neji's sexual preference, she found Shikamaru and Neji a cute couple. Of course she wouldn't admit that now.
"What's going to happen to them?" Chouji asked Lee.
"Well, they're going to have a first hand experience of living in hell. They better be ready for that." Lee replied with a smile. It was purely based on his experience although his fiancée was more willing for that matter.
"Man, my student is all grown up." Asuma softly said as he took a drag on his newly lit cigarette. Watching Shikamaru and Neji was like watching a Spanish telenovela. You could sigh with vicariousness while watching.
"I agree with you on that Asuma. Drinks tonight?" Gai said with his garish white teeth together with a thumb-up sign.
"Sure." Asuma said with a half smile.
"Hey Neji." Shikamaru said while walking. After so much pondering, he decided ask his fiancée. "Do you… do you want to eat?"
Neji stopped in his tracks as Shikamaru did so. The Hyuuga was again eyeing him like he was starting to grow some horns. Who in this planet will ever appreciate his selfless side?
Neji looked at his 'fiance' weirdly. What was happening to the original Nara Shikamaru? Does he look like hungry? And for fuck' sake stop looking down!
"No, I'm fine Nara. See you tomorrow." Neji replied and marched forward without waiting for lazy nin.
TBC
A/N:I always update on the first week or usually first Monday of the month for those who are curious. But I will not update next month because I'll post a three-part NejiShika fic. A new one. Thank you so much. I got the he idea on Shikamaru's 'asset' from Meg Cabot's novel. Uhm, yeah review?