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: To shalanar—happy, happy birthday! To all those who waited for this update thank you so much. I really appreciate it as well as all the reviews. I hope you all enjoy this. : )

Chapter 8

For the seventh time that hour, Hyuuga Neji stood in front of the life-size mirror in his room. Pacing and tense, Neji didn't know what to do. He looked at the clock: four o' clock. He still has some puny two hours left to pacify his absurd behavior. Okay so it's just a trifle dinner at Nara's house but look! Of course Nara's parents are expecting something… just something our of their son's fiancée! Neji looked at his pallid face in the mirror and growled. He looked horrendous right now. A knock on the door almost made Neji jump. He ushered for the maid to come in.

"Neji-sama, you should be taking your bath right now."

Neji's head snapped towards the maid with a face he would usually use to daunt a foe. The hapless maid could only gasp and retreat with fear. Seeing the woman's expression, Neji sighed and eyed the said servant with a light apologetic look.

"I know. Give me an hour to prepare." Neji said softly. The maid said her excuses and exited leaving Neji staring at his gloomy reflection again.

—--

"I don't want to! It's too troublesome! The last time you ordered me to do it I broke three and the punishment wasn't that child-friendly, you know."

"You listen to me young man! Just get the plates in the cupboard!"

"But mom…it's just Neji coming over! Not some import—"

"He's not important to you?" Shikamaru's mother eyed her son with a withering look leaving Shikamaru cowering. That look never failed to frighten the shit out of the lazy boy ever since he came to this world. That look was simply too traumatic.

"It-it's not like that! It's just th—"

"Just what?" His mother countered never shrugging the creepy look. Shikamaru eyed his mom and sighed in defeat. Damn that ogre look she always makes. Shikamaru walked towards the kitchen and got the said plates and handed it to her who cheerfully arranged it on the dining table. Shikamaru swore that his mom was bipolar (1). One moment she's raging to start a battle the next minute she's happy as a kid. It was way too fucking troublesome. He should've been the Kyuubi's vessel. That way, he can have the independence he has been dreaming of.

"Shika!"

Shikamaru glanced at his mom who was eyeing him eerily again. "What again, mom?"

"It's past five, my lazy son. I believe you should start cleaning yourself or else Neji would start looking at other men."

"Hai, hai." Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck as he ascended the flight of stairs towards his room. Neji looking at other men? How was it related to him cleaning up? Oh… well that would be very nice.

—--

Neji stood there while several maids attended to his side, arranging his kimono and hair. He thought that after taking a good long cold shower, he might wad off his anxiety but it only got worse.

After the finishing touches of his wardrobe, Neji looked less haggard. He looked at himself in the mirror and eyed his royal blue scalloped kimono with an embroidered dragon winding upwards from the hem towards the thigh part. Finished with a bright gold obi matching the design of the dragon, Neji looked like a goddess er… I mean a god. His long soft hair was wrapped into a chignon with a small yellow flower accenting the knot.

"You look lovely, Neji-sama." A maid said with a smile in which the others fully agreed to. He almost snorted at the comment, which he have heard a hundred times from the mouths of his relatives trying their best to come in good terms with him when behind his back, they were sneering.

He cannot blame them though, ever since his uncle implored him to live with them, many from the Souke voiced their odium. Hyuuga Hiashi didn't pay heed to their advice. Now, even the maids are putting up a front for him when they truly envy him for having the most beautiful kimonos reserved for the Souke only. He almost touched his cloth-covered forehead where the hideous mark lies—a mannerism he tried to erase since he started living with his uncle. A knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Neji asked.

"Neji-niisan? It's me, Hinata."

Neji went to the door and opened it revealing his cousin, Hyuuga Hinata. Like before, Hinata still has this reticent behavior she always sported. Neji guessed it would never fade.

Hinata greeted her cousin with a soft smile. It has been two years since Neji lived with them and she was glad that her cousin accepted his father's offer… even if Neji was forced. Soon enough after Neji moved in, her cousin got used to living in such luxury but managed to stay aloof towards others.

"What is it, Hinata-sama?" Neji queried as he eyed his cousin indifferently.

Hinata produced a smile again as a reaction to his cousin's term. Hinata-sama. If she were in better terms with Neji, she would've giggled. Neji was treated like a Souke here and yet, he still used such adornments to their names when he's also being called with a 'sama.'

"Here," Hinata said as she handed Neji a box wrapped in a cloth. "Father said he couldn't go with you because of some business matters. He said to give it to Shikamaru-kun's mom as a token of appreciation for the dinner."

Neji eyed the package before questioning. "What's in it?'

"Some assorted sweets."

"Thank you." Neji said. As he was about to close the door, Hinata called out.

"Ne-Nejiniisan!"

Neji stopped his action midway and waited for Hinata to speak. "Y-you look really beautiful in that kimono. I'm sure Shikamaru-kun will also think the same." Hinata said with utmost sincerity. Her cousin was really way above her when it comes to skills and well, beauty, too.

Neji looked at his cousin who was already blushing under his intense gaze. Hinata will always feel inferior towards him, he thought. He shortly raised an arm to gaze at his sleeve and looked back at his cousin. "You think so?"

Hinata eyes widened with surprise. She never expected Neji to react to her compliment. She smiled sweetly at her cousin and nodded sincerely. "I'm sure of it."

Neji gave Hinata a small smile of thanks. Hinata was learning to socialize faster than he does, Neji gravely thought. This dinner with Shikamaru's family will be a disaster knowing how ignorant he was to mingling with others.

"By the way, Neji-niisan, congratulations on your engagement." Hinata greeted her cousin.

Neji nodded forcing himself to not roll his eyes. "Congratulations on your engagement, too, Hinata-sama."

Hinata accepted Neji's congratulation and walked off. Neji walked towards the mirror and eyed his reflection. Relax, Neji. Nothing bad will happen… I hope.

—--

Shikamaru eyed the clock and sighed. It was already six fifteen in the evening and Neji was nowhere in his sight. His mom was already dressed quite formally as well as his indolent dad who was watching some tawdry TV shows. Shou was nowhere in his sight, good. Much better for him if less trouble was present.

Shikamaru stared at the small box in his hand as if it would melt right then and there if he kept on doing that. He sighed and placed the box on the coffee table. A soft knock on the door meant that Neji was already there. Shikamaru stood from the couch and opened the door with all his plaints ready for blast off.

"Oi Neji! Do you know what time—"

Neji stared at him with furrowed brows.

"Is it…" Shikamaru finished off with a whisper as he was already ogling at Neji's rather stunning appearance. Neji looked too pretty for a man that he stood there for quite some time before Shikamaru's mother emerged from his son's back and gave Neji a warm motherly smile and embrace.

"Hello there, Neji! My god, you look absolutely charming tonight!"

"Thank you." Neji spoke softly, returning the comment with a smile and a little blush. Ah, at least he knows how to appreciate compliments.

"Come in!" Shikamaru's mother said as he nudged his son away from the doorway. She placed a hand on Neji's and walked him in. Then she whispered in his ear, "Don't mind my son; he's too shocked because he's never seen such beauty in his eighteen years of lazy living."

Shikamaru didn't know what on earth did her mom say to Neji but it wasn't good in his opinion when Neji's cheeks turned redder. His mother then laughed softly.

"My uncle wanted me to give this to you. He said he was sorry he couldn't be here because of some business."

"Oh don't worry about it, dear. He already sent me a note earlier." Shikamaru's mother said with a soft smile as she accepted the box. "Just thank Hiashi-san for me, okay?"

Neji nodded and looked at Shikamaru who still remained silent. Shikamaru's mom went to the living room to get her 'lazy' husband as how she put it.

"What?" Neji whispered with annoyance, his face transforming from a nice visage to that of a darkened and irritated. Shikamaru remained silent his mouth slightly opened, not noticing Neji's query.

"Sweetheart, meet your son's fiancée, Hyuuga Neji." Shikamaru's mother greeted as she walked back with her husband. Neji greeted and bowed. Shikamaru's dad eyed Neji seriously making Neji squirm under the stare then suddenly, the longhaired nin was enveloped in a big hug by Shikamaru's father.

"Ohohoho! So you're Neji! I've heard a lot about you from my wife!" Nara Shikaku greeted as he pulled Neji away from him in arm's length distance. Neji nodded weakly and was again enveloped in another big hug. "Oh my, you're too pretty for my ugly son! Hohohohohohoho! He's not worthy to have you! Hohohohhoho!"

Shikamaru who very slowly got his senses back saw Neji starting to get uncomfortable around his dad's arms. Then he caught his father's hand slowly descending Neji's back and that's when Shikamaru got his brain back to action as he grabbed his dad's arms away from Neji and stood in front of his fiancée. Awww, how sweet… shut up!

See, see what he means? He wanted a normal life and this is his adventure of a lifetime! A seemingly innocuous and mentally retarded dad, a ghoulish nagger mom and an anti-social pretty yet barking fiancée. What a life and this! This was his dream vacation. Who the hell said he wanted a fiancée?

"Come on, old man! Stop being a pervert!' Shikamaru shouted with annoyance. "This is so bothersome. Oi Neji, you okay?" Shikamaru asked as he turned around to see Neji still blushing (will that blush never stop!) and looking down. Damn Neji and his withdrawn attitude towards people. One would think he's the perfect and gorgeous fiancée suited for Shikamaru's lazy ass. Wait until you hear him open his mouth. You can never get any more obscenities per minute.

"I'm fine." Neji answered weakly. He hasn't even stepped foot on the living room and he's already assaulted like this? Argh!

"You stop it!" Shikamaru's mom joined in as she slapped her husband hard on the head. Then looking at Neji, "I'm sorry Neji, my husband still thinks he's a heartthrob at his age. Come on, now. Shika, assist Neji to the dining room. The food will get cold if we don't start eating. I'll go get Shou."

Shikamaru walked Neji towards the table and offered him a seat, which Neji silently accepted. He sat beside the Hyuuga on the right side of the table, him nearer the table's head where his father was already seated. Seeing Neji's trembling state, he asked the Hyuuga. "Do you want some water or iced tea?"

"Water… please." Neji replied quietly and Shikamaru stood but was promptly stopped. He looked down to see Neji holding his wrist with a wary look. The lazy nin looked at his father who was eyeing Neji with a perverted geezer's look.

"Don't worry, he won't jump on you. I'll just be at the kitchen counter." With that, Neji let go of Shikamaru's wrist.

When Shikamaru went to the kitchen, Shikamaru's dad leaned on the table and said. "Do you know? My lazy and ugly son has a fetish for nice smooth napes. Beware of him."

Neji wasn't able to form any reaction upon hearing that and knowing his hair tied up right now, he regretted it. Suddenly a crash was heard from the kitchen making Shikamaru's dad laugh heartily.

"Here." Shikamaru said as he handed Neji a glass of water. This time, it was the lazy nin in a trembling state with cheeks blushing. His father laughed more loudly, quite infectious, Neji's lips started to mold into a small smile.

"Stop it dad! Dammnit!" Shikamaru said annoyingly making his father laugh more and Neji's smile turned to a smirk. "You too! Argh! This is so troublesome!" He said to Neji.

"See, Neji? I'm not the one going to jump on you anytime soon, my son will!" another set of boisterous laughter.

Neji's smirk grew wider, he couldn't help it. Shikamaru's dad may be a little bit of a pervert but he was a quaint father and Neji found his 'green jokes' quite funny.

"Stop it!" Shikamaru shouted again but knowing his father's antics, he should've been prepared. Insults and his oh-so scandalizing secrets would bludgeon him alive in the next few hours by his beloved dad. Talk about parental loving and care. He was so touched. Thank all the gods Shou wasn't here or else… without warning a shrill voice managed to get Shikamaru's dad and Neji's attention, making the two stop laughing.

"Dad! So you've started OSS without me!" A small boy pouted as he crossed his small arms across his chest.

TBC

A/N: Am I correct about how Hinata calls Neji? Is it Neji-niisan? Chapter 14 is already done so if ever I discontinue this it'll stop at that chapter. Review! I've been out for a month! You better review! Thanks and have a nice day!

(1) Bipolar disorder is also known as Manic-Depressive Disorder.