"Well, thanks for walking me home, Shika," Ino giggled, nudging his shoulder.

"Not a problem, but we didn't really have to stop and get flowers for my mother. I only said that so Naruto would walk Hinata home."

"Now you listen here, your mother deserves those flowers. You are the man of the house, you need to show her now, more than ever, how much you love and appreciate her."

"Yeah..." he winced, looking down at the street with the heavy reminder.

It was true.

Both he and Ino lost their fathers during the Fourth Shinobi War, and unlike some of his friends, he just couldn't bring himself to move out of the house afterwards. The thought of his mother sitting there day and night all by herself was such a painful burden to carry. He couldn't fathom putting her through that, not to mention, she'd probably end up bugging him to come over and visit or eat dinner anyways.

He'd had time to process the wounds caused by his father's death, but, sometimes the reminder that he was truly gone was such a pain. At least he still had his teammates and friends to keep him company. Nights like tonight didn't come around too often these days, everyone was usually busy with their various roles and responsibilities since job permanent placement was just around the corner. Things around the village were finally looking up, and he rather enjoyed seeing everyone in such good spirits.

Plus, tonight had the added bonus of walking Ino home, which he found more comforting than usual.

Having watched her fall into the river and not surface sent a rush of dread through his body. Instantly, the thought of having to lose another so close to his heart made him queasy. He felt his nerves frazzle and anxiety skyrocket as he frantically tried to get over to her location quickly.

But he was too slow.

If this had been a real world happenstance, what would the outcome have been? Would he be laying flowers on another gravestone at the memorial? How could he live with himself after something like that?

Those were the thoughts still keeping him up at night. His fear gave him some rather surprising insight as realization set in. The slow, sinking feeling of tender emotions he dare not say aloud.

Looking at her bright and shining smile, he couldn't help the tug he felt inside his chest. Ino was beautiful, and quirky and honestly a handful at times... but she was his dear friend... his teammate. His feelings now bordered on inappropriate, and he just tried to ignore them for the sake of his team. But when she looked at him the way she was now, it was hard to stifle those feelings.

"Ino... I-"

"Yes, I know you know. But she'll appreciate them, nonetheless. Women love surprise gifts," she grinned, knowing how that was sure to brighten Yoshino-san's day.

"I'll uh... keep that in mind," he laughed nervously, swallowing the words that almost slipped from his mouth. "Well, I guess this is goodnight."

"G'night, Shika-kun," Ino smiled once again, hugging her teammate before heading for the building's entrance.

With one final wave, Shikamaru watched as she disappeared through the glass doors and up the stairwell towards her apartment on the top floor. With a sigh, he felt the tension in his body slowly dissipate. As usual, his eyes glanced up at the dark balcony he knew was hers, waiting for the flicker of light that told him she had made it inside.

"Goodnight, Ino," he whispered to himself, looking down at the beautiful bouquet he held in his hands.

With another sigh escaping, Shikamaru turned and made his leave, trudging down the streets towards home.

How troublesome.

"Ugh, finally!" Ino exclaimed, unbuckling the ankle straps on her heels and flopping down at the end of her bed.

Crossing her legs, Ino massaged the tender arch of her foot, cursing her choice of footwear once again. Had she known she was going to be doing that much standing and walking, she definitely would have chosen a more suitable pair of heels.

But, they had done the job intended.

On multiple occasions her legs had caught the attention of a number of onlookers... one in particular. His lengthy side glances were obvious. So obvious, that at one point she thought someone might call him out on his watchful ways. But none would be so brave as to call someone like Neji Hyuga a lech... not if they wanted to walk away in one piece.

As far as she knew, their little secret was still safe.

Allowing a bit of healing chakra to sink beneath her skin, she sighed and repeated the same treatment to her other foot that was throbbing for relief. Having quelled the screaming ache of her feet, she checked the clock on her nightstand, grimacing at the time.

When did it get so late?

Rolling her eyes at the minuscule amount of sleep she was going to get before work, Ino let her head slump forward. Not only did she have to open the flower shop in the morning, but she also had a shift at the hospital in the afternoon. By the time she'd get home, it'd be late, and she'd be doubly exhausted.

Until she received her job placement duties from Tsunade-sama, she'd just have to deal with the stress of such seemingly endless days. Hopefully, they wouldn't last too much longer.

With any luck, she'd receive a promotion and perhaps have more time to devote to her new position. If so, she'd definitely have to cut back on her hours at the shop, thus giving her a much needed break from the family business.

Letting her head hang tirelessly in defeat for a few moments of self pity, the blonde pushed all stray thoughts aside, and resigned herself to the notion of sleep. The quicker she fell asleep, the quicker tomorrow would come and go. Only then, would she find the rest she sought.

When she opened her eyes, her gaze focused on the slice of skin peeping from beneath the thigh slit in her dress. Pressing her open palm to the top of her thigh, she allowed her hand to slip beneath the opening of the fabric and curve down toward her inner thigh.

Immediately, she thought of him.

As if she could still feel his touch, her cheeks flushed, imagining it was his hand that was creeping beneath her dress now. Taking in a deep breath, Ino released it slowly, letting this feeling wash over her entire body.

Her skin tingled, her pulse throbbed, and her eyes slid shut as she became a passenger to this sensation. Thoughts of how he had touched her in the bathroom the night before came flooding into her mind as the smallest of whimpers left her pursed lips.

She wasn't sure why the sensation of desire was so strong, only that it was completely intoxicating. For having such pale eyes, Neji's glare was gravely dark and captivating. It rendered her powerless and left her wanting more. She wanted his attention, she craved it, as if it was some indefinable need.

Ino felt the heat emanate from her skin as the Neji-induced fever returned.

Walking towards the balcony doors, she opened them and joined the cool night air, propping her elbows on the railing as she gazed at the view below. The twinkling lights of the village were enchanting as the unmistakable rustle of leaves blowing in the wind filled the breeze with its subtle song.

Having felt calmed by the serenity of her surroundings, Ino took in one last glimpse of the village she loved so dearly, and headed off to bed. As she crossed the threshold of the opened french doors, she felt – rather than heard – the presence of another behind her.

Turning around quickly, her body jolted with surprise, her eyes falling upon the very man that had just invaded her thoughts.

Before her, stood the Hyuga heir, himself. He looked calm on the surface, but his eyes seemed to tell a different tale. The milky orbs were rather pointed and focused as he silently approached her, her body having been frozen in place by his sudden appearance.

"Neji... w-what are you-"

"Do you have it?" he interrupted, staring deeply into her eyes.

"Do I have what? Work in the morning? Yes. It's late, can we do this another-"

"Do you have an answer?"

"Maybe," she shrugged, trying not to appear overly enthused.

"Not 'maybe.' Yes or no," he snipped, annoyed with her indecision. "I need to know, now. I have a mission in the morning, and I cannot afford to lose anymore sleep over this. I need to be able to focus, and can't have anything hanging over my head stressing me out."

"I see..." she reflected momentarily before raising a brow at him. "I stress you out, do I?"

"Of course you do, woman. You're driving me crazy. Just give me an answer."

"I'll give you my answer, but, I need your help first."

"With?"

"My dress," she admitted smoothly, turning away from him and pulling her hair over one shoulder. "I think the zipper is stuck."

As she peered over her shoulder at the stoic man, she felt the heat of his gaze as it roamed over her entire backside. She smiled cheekily as he closed the gap between them, his fingers finding the clasp with ease. Without haste, the zipper was lowered, inch by inch, down her spine. The languid and tortuously slow pace with which his fingers moved, only made the situation more intense... as if he was teasing her.

And she was loving it.

As the zipper came to a halt, she felt the warmth of his thumb as it grazed the skin of her lower back. With her skin practically aching for his touch, she waited breathlessly for his next move. Would he slide his fingers up her spine? Would he slowly open the back of her dress like gift wrap? Would he yank it off her body in a rush of lust?

But as she waited, nothing more happened.

Seems he was onto her, and she would be forced to give her answer before he played along any further.

"Tell me," he demanded softly.

With her hands holding the dress to the front of her body, Ino slowly turned to face him. She could see his resolve was slipping, his hands now balled into fists at his side, as if fighting the urge to reach out and touch her. When their eyes locked, she began to bite her lip, stifling the smile that tugged at her mouth.

Lowering her hands, Ino let the black garment fall from her body, to the floor. Standing proudly, she kept his gaze, urging him to understand the meaning behind her actions. Left only in her matching bra and panties, she felt she could not be more clear about her intentions, and stood waiting for any sign of understanding.

Surely, the amount of genius this man possessed would not go wasted in this moment. It should have been completely obvious what her answer was.

She wanted him.

Inching closer to her scantily clad body, Neji towered above her, his eyes roving over her body as a satisfied sigh left his lips. "So, I take it you accept the terms?"

"I do," she breathed quietly, eyes transfixed on his mouth with increased anticipation.

"All of them?"

"Yes," she agreed, her voice merely a whisper, as the anticipation left her body trembling for his touch.

"Very well," Neji purred, a smirk upon his lips as he drank in the sight of her and her black lace lingerie.

The dark glow in his eyes should have been terrifying, but it only proved to excite her. Her breathing was shallow, and a chill broke out across her skin as she felt the bang of her heart against her rib cage.

And then he was upon her.

His lips came crashing down, claiming hers with a desperate need. His hands cradled the sides of her face as he kissed her fully, his teeth pulling at her bottom lip in a teasing effort. Surprised by the gentle scrape of teeth, Ino released a gasp, which Neji took full advantage of. As her lips parted, his tongue delved in to find hers, eager to feel it.

There was no battle for dominance, his tongue was definitely in charge... and definitely knew what it was doing. It was all she could do to hold onto him, her nails digging into the broad expanse of his back as she felt swept away by the hunger of such a kiss.

By anyone of less talent, this kiss would have been a sloppy mess, but Neji displayed a clear knowledge. Ino was still in shock, her knees having felt weakened by such a hot-blooded kiss that she leaned back against the door frame. As Neji pressed his body against her, standing took little effort now.

And for that, she was grateful. The way he was relentlessly kissing her made her eyes roll back in her head, her mind grow foggy, and her body go slack.

In a blur of lips and tongues, they continued, Neji swallowing each of her moans before tilting her head back to suckle at the soft skin of her neck. Squirming as his mouth closed over the pulse point at the base of her throat, Ino panted, clasping onto the fabric of his yukata. In an attempt to keep her still, Neji pressed himself more firmly against her, growling against the curve of her neck.

Each kiss and nip against her throat earned Neji a satisfied sigh, and each bite earned him an even more favorable moan. The way she was fervently moving against his body was driving him mad with a blinding need, and all he wanted to do was scoop her up and toss her onto the bed and hear her cry out into the silent night.

But... with the mission looming over his head, he knew they had to stop.

As his roaming mouth made its way back up to hers, he claimed her lips once again, her tongue more than happy to dance with his as she whimpered against him. Breaking the kiss for air, they both stared breathlessly at each other. Their eyes were hazy and unfocused, and their cheeks were flushed pink with boiling lust, each obviously wanting more than just a kiss.

"Th-that was..."

"I know," Neji smirked, amused at having left the talkative woman speechless. "As much as I'd like for this to continue, I'm afraid I must go."

"Yeah... your mission... right."

"Don't worry, there's more fun to be had. I should be back in a few days."

"Okay, safe travels," she smiled up at him, admiring his softened features.

With Neji planting one last kiss upon her lips for the evening, he nodded to her as he made his leave. Flickering out of sight as he made his speedy return home, Ino could feel his chakra fade into the distance, hating the sinking feeling she now felt in his absence.

Closing the balcony doors, she smiled to herself, her mind already playing the images of what had just transpired between them on repeat. Turning off the lights, she slipped beneath the covers and stared up at her ceiling, hoping the next few days would pass quickly. She was giddy with excitement at the prospect of having more fun with such a smoldering man.

That was by far the best kiss of her life, and Ino found herself salivating at the thought of this 'more' he spoke of. What would it entail? Would it also leave her breathless? Would it satisfy her?

She could only hope.

The next morning came far too early.

As Neji dressed himself and readied his traveling pack, he entertained visions of the night prior.

With a smug grin lighting up his usually stoic features, he hurried and left the Hyuga manor, taking to the tree tops with a brisk leap.

After meeting up with his Tenten and Lee at the Southern gate, they all took to the trees, quick and quiet as they made their way from the village, to one of the southern ports of Fire Country.

They had been handed this mission by the Fire Daimyo himself, who was apparently having some trouble keeping the port city of Himitsu aligned with the Shinobi Allied Forces Pact. This city was on the up and up, having suffered great poverty in the past, only now seeing the benefits of investors and expansion that was ushered in during the time of peace.

However, this brought a certain greed of money to the table for the newly prosperous port, and for some reason, they were now accepting under the table "donations" from a certain rogue band of thieves. In exchange for lump sums, they were to look the other way when cargo ships carrying undisclosed and undocumented goods docked for inspection. An act which only served to undermine the era of peace that was so recently achieved.

They weren't sure what they were smuggling, but if they were pocketing as much as they thought they were, it couldn't be good. In order to complete their mission, they'd need to be able to see inside the large wooden crates and ascertain the exact goings on in the underbelly of this booming city on the rise.

The Daimyo was no fool, he could see the merit of Himitsu's transformation, but if illegal activities were happening beneath their noses, the bright future the city was sure to have on the horizon would be snuffed out. If certain individuals were capable of bribing the port authorities, then the bad apples would need to be separated from the rest of the barrel in order to save the whole bushel.

For Neji, this mission was a pretty open and shut case. They'd stakeout the docks, locate said ships, use his visual prowess to identify the smuggled goods inside the crate, and arrest the crew responsible for their import, forged inspection documents, and distribution of goods.

This was, by far, the most interesting mission he and Team Gai had been on since the war concluded, only this time, there was a reward waiting for him upon his return.

His thoughts turned to this woman so often these days, and knowing she was more than happy to oblige his fantasies certainly put an extra pep in his step.

She was his.

With the blonde goddess wrapped around his finger, he felt unconquerable. There were so many things he wanted to do with her. Never before had he experienced such a burning desire.

"Neji, what is your hurry? We have all day to get there, and the ship isn't due into port until the early morning hours. Can you please slow down?"

"Feeling a little sluggish this morning are we, Tenten?" Neji scoffed.

"Get bent! It's early, and you're unusually chipper this morning. What gives?"

"Can't you feel it, Tenten? Neji is blooming in the springtime of youth! He has embraced this beautiful day, and is alive with the fire of determination."

"Ugh, you guys make me sick. The sun hasn't even fully risen and it's already been a long day."

"Hurry, slowpoke. We'll be stopping halfway to change into our civilian clothes and get something to eat. You can gripe all you want, but it won't help you move any faster."

Judging by the grumbling from behind him, he could tell he was getting under her skin, but Neji didn't care. If anything, his words would only serve as encouragement. With Tenten, her anger only fueled her speed and agility. They'd been a team long enough for him to know exactly how each of them operated. Once their motivations aligned, they were a well-oiled, unstoppable machine.

As he lead the team in their V formation through the forest branches, Neji grinned to himself once again. Mile, by mile, they were that much closer to completing their mission. With each step quicker and stronger than the last, he kept his eyes on the prize.

Calm and collected he may have seemed, but his mind was a blur of skin that smelled of roses, and sparkling eyes of turquoise.