Chapter 8: The Pet Ceremony

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.

###

Shikamaru lay staring up at the ceiling, trying unsuccessfully to will himself to get out of bed. Dread sat like a boulder on his chest, weighing him down. In less than two hours, he would own another human being. He couldn't even wrap his mind around that thought. It was too terrible. And then in the next minute it all seemed unreal.

It wasn't real, he reassured himself. He wasn't actually taking a Pet. He was just providing temporary sanctuary to someone – however irritating that someone might be – who needed it.

With a deep sigh, he pulled himself from bed and began to dress. Hyuuga-san would be waiting for his breakfast, no doubt full of stinging comments about the barbarity of South Country people. Was this what his life would be like for the next year and two months?

As far as the ceremony itself, he had no real idea what to expect. The whole idea was so distasteful to him that he had never bothered to research what was involved in a Pet Ceremony. Slaves were simply bought and sold. Apparently taking a Pet was more complicated. The one part he did know, the Mark, made him shudder at the very thought.

He went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast – rice, dried fish and green tea for Hyuuga-san; bean cakes and coffee for himself – then headed over to the holding cells. The courtyard looked the same as usual; various shinobi training, talking, joking. They waved and called a greeting as he passed. Did they know what he was about to do? For them, this was an apparently normal day; for him, it felt like he was at a crossroads, about to take a dark, alien path.

Thankfully, Ino and Chouji would be out training already with Asuma-sensei, so there would be no troublesome explanations necessary. Would he tell them, could he tell them, after it was all over? They had never had secrets from each other before – but then none of them had ever done anything like this before. He wondered if his father had even told his best friends, Ino and Chouji's dads, when he went out to have a drink with them last night.

Hyuuga-san was of course awake when he arrived, no doubt having arisen at the crack of dawn. Shikamaru had expected bitching, but the Hyuuga was pale and silent as he sipped his tea. Once or twice he glanced at Shikamaru, as if seeking some kind of reassurance. Shikamaru didn't know if he had any to give. He could feel the same uncertainty in himself.

He cleared his throat. "The…ceremony is at 11, at the Kazekage's office."

"What's going to happen?" Hyuuga-san asked.

"I…I really don't know…any more than what I told you. I've never been to one." A thought struck him. "I suppose it's formal. I'll loan you a kimono."

Hyuuga-san nodded. "How many people will be there?"

"Not many, I don't think…maybe just the Kazekage and her guards and Iruka. My parents won't be…they had some kind of medical conference to go to with Shizune. They use deer antlers and other things in making antidotes and stuff." It was not a high-priority mission, Shikamaru knew; his parents could probably have gotten out of it if they wanted to. But it was pretty clear they did not want to.

He would not tell Hyuuga-san the whole truth – that his parents had argued all night. First Yoshino's wrath had come down on him – "What were you thinking, Shikamaru?"

He had answered with the truth. "I was thinking they would take the money and leave. But they called my bluff."

"How could you think that you – a child! – could outwit those Sound devils? Even Lady Tsunade herself hasn't been able to beat them!"

"If we're opposed to slavery, Mom, then we can't just let them take him –"

"He's a White-Eyes! He's a killer."

The full brunt of her fury, however, had been reserved for Shikaku. He was in charge, he should know better, Shikamaru was just a foolish boy, they had made a mockery of everything their clan stood for. And on, and on. Listening to their fighting, knowing he had caused it, had been hard enough. But it had been even more awful when the yelling stopped. The soft sniffles from behind his parents' closed door…his father's appalled voice…

"Yoshino…don't cry…"

"I just never thought the Naras would come to this…"

His stomach tightened at the memory. Never, ever in his life had he heard his mother cry. Glancing up, he found Hyuuga-san looking at him probingly. Was that sympathy he saw? That was almost as disconcerting as his mother's breakdown.

###

Neji was, disturbingly, feeling some sympathy for Nara-san. He didn't want to feel that. Nara-san was his enemy – or at least, from a country that Neji considered hostile in the extreme. But it was pretty clear that there was more to his parents' not being here today than Nara-san was letting on. It certainly didn't take three people to talk about antlers or whatever. Having gone against his own clan, Neji knew how difficult and painful it could be.

They got washed and dressed in near-silence. Once again, Nara-san let Neji go first, but this time, when he was done, Neji was not turned over to a guard, but allowed to stay in Nara-san's bedroom. That Nara-san could be so foolishly trusting boggled Neji's mind. Nevertheless, he was glad for the opportunity to do a little reconnaissance. Stealthily and methodically, he began to inspect the room. Unfortunately, Nara-san had taken his weapons pouch with him, which was Neji's main objective. He did not rely heavily on weapons in a fight; his hands were his greatest weapon. Still, it was useful to have a few in a pinch.

Even without that, there still might be information to be gleaned. The bureau drawers held nothing but clothes. Above it, a bulletin board held pictures of Nara-san at various ages with several other people; friends, evidently. In most they were smiling, their arms around each other. Staring at the pictures, Neji felt a twinge. He had never posed for snapshots like that, only formal photos. He could not say that he even had a friend like that. His teammates came the closest, but even there it was more…businesslike. They trained together almost every day, for long hours, so in some sense they knew each other very well, but it was mostly based on their battlefield styles and shared goals. That was what was important, he thought. Not this other foolishness – laughing, joking around. A person who spent their days doing that would never accomplish their goals.

But neither did you, a tiny voice said in his mind. All your hard work and sacrifice – in the end it came to nothing.

Shaking that thought off, he continued his exploration. The smaller room connected to Nara-san's bedroom held books, hundreds of them, on just about every subject imaginable. There were ancient tomes of battle tactics and lore, tales and descriptions of foreign lands, a whole shelf devoted to shogi strategies, even several volumes of art, poetry and fiction. Well, Neji supposed, when you were as lazy as Nara-san, you undoubtedly could find plenty of time to read.

It was in Nara-san's closet that he hit the jackpot – a small, sharp throwing star carelessly left on a shelf. He seized it and quickly tucked it out of sight beneath the obi, the wide belt of the kimono, then slid the closet door shut in the nick of time, just as Nara-san came walking out.

"Ready?" Nara-san said. Neji nodded. Together, they walked through the streets of Suna. Nara-san seemed deep in thought. Neji was getting that surreal feeling again.

It was a little early when they arrived at the Kazekage's office, and Iruka informed them she had not yet arrived. The door to her office was shut; Neji wondered if Kabuto was in there. He touched his belt, feeling the sharp point of the throwing star. He would use it if he had to.

"Everything is in order," Iruka said. "Your father stopped by early this morning as agreed to sign the papers and deliver the payment. For now, Shikamaru, you will go with Aoba to settle your part of the paperwork and receive your instruction. Does your Pet require instruction of any sort?"

Neji tensed at that. Tell him to ask Lord Jiraiya for some instruction, yeah…

But Nara-san just said, after a moment of thought, "He should probably get some instruction about Suna, the customs and history and such."

"Indeed he should," Iruka said drily. "As you won't be able to provide that, seeing as how you slept through my classes." To Neji he said, "Follow me."

Somewhat warily, Neji followed him down the hall to an empty room lined with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, and several chairs. Iruka took a seat and motioned Neji to do the same.

"Well, I know this is strange circumstances, but welcome to Suna," Iruka said. "First off, did you have any questions about anything?"

Neji had a ton of questions, mostly along the lines of, Why is your country so heinous and depraved as to think you can buy and sell human beings? But he didn't think that would go over too well. Anyway, that was not the most important thing.

"The culture, such as it is, doesn't really interest me," he said bluntly. "Only the geography of the town and surrounding lands. Do you have a map?"

"Of course," Iruka said. Going to one of the bookshelves, he pulled out a large book and opened it to a double-page spread of a topographical map. "This is Suna, right here," he said, indicating a large tannish area. "As you can see, it's mostly desert and mountain country, although we do have some areas, like the Naras' lands, that are greener, and of course the area near the river. To our west is Otogakure, and beyond that, Iwagakure, the Stone village. To the east is the Grass village, Kusagakure. Just before the border here is the Lightning village, Kumogakure. They are generally friendly with us, but since it's further away, we don't really interact that much."

"And this is the border between North and South? This is the North Country up here?"

"Yes," Iruka said.

"And the river runs along here…" Neji traced it with a finger. "How many miles is it?"

Iruka sat back, looking at him appraisingly. "If I can be honest, it sounds like you're planning on heading back to the North. Does Shikamaru know about this?"

Neji looked back coolly, not saying anything.

Iruka sighed. "Look, I can only imagine how difficult your situation must be. I lost both my parents at a young age, in the war, and I still miss them. So I know you must be missing your family, and thinking about how worried they must be."

Neji felt a pang at that. It wasn't that he missed his family. Maybe if his parents had been alive, he would have. But there were only his uncle, and the rest of the Hyuuga elders, and he seriously doubted they were missing him. He just wanted to escape from this hellish country.

"I know you must want to go home as soon as you can," Iruka said. "But think carefully before you try to do it on your own. It's a very long way to go. And seeing the country on a map is not the same as crossing it on foot, or on a horse if you can manage to get one. "

Neji wondered if that sluggish brown one he had been riding would even be up to the trip. Nara-san's black horse certainly would be, but he doubted it would let him ride it. It hadn't even liked being around him.

"All I'm saying," Iruka said, "is let Shikamaru help you. I've known him since he was a child. He was not a good student." A momentary flicker of exasperation crossed Iruka's face as he glanced down at the map, apparently recalling Shikamaru's failures as a student. "But he was always compassionate. Kids who were picked on, who were outcasts, he was a friend to them. He has become a very fine young man. And he is a very good strategist. His sensei tells me he has a genius I.Q." Chagrin showed on Iruka's face. "Maybe if I had been a better teacher, I could have motivated him to show more of that…"

Neji shifted impatiently in his chair. He really didn't care about Iruka's shortcomings as a teacher, and he was pretty certain that the notion that Nara-san was some kind of genius was wishful boasting by his sensei. Neji was a genius. That fact was generally acknowledged, even (albeit begrudgingly) by the Hyuuga elders. No doubt the standards were lower here in the South.

"As to the ceremony itself," Iruka said, "it's pretty straightforward. You pledge to be Master and Pet, and then Tsunade-sama will administer the Pet Mark." Iruka looked slightly anxious. "Did Shikamaru tell you about that?"

Neji nodded, his thoughts going back to his conversation with Nara-san the previous night. It reminded him that he still had some lingering doubt about this First Night business. He was not entirely convinced Nara-san did not mean to Use him as a Pet.

"Does Nara-san…" how could he put this so Iruka would not catch on? "…have a girlfriend?"

Iruka looked surprised for a moment; then his expression changed to a kind of pitying concern. "Uhh…well, I don't think he has a steady girlfriend…I do often see him with girls…" A thought seemed to occur to him and he sat up straighter, his voice taking on a teacherly cadence. "About five years ago, a young orphaned boy turned up in this village. He had escaped from a slave trader named Mizuki, who was hunting him. I defended him, paid the slave price, freed him and became his guardian. He was one of the ones I mentioned, that Shikamaru befriended."

"Excuse me, but is there a point to this story?"

"The point is," Iruka said, still with that pitying look, "Shikamaru told me he admired my doing that. He said that that was the way to fight the slave trade, in a peaceful way. I'm sure that…" he paused, as if choosing his words carefully, "…I'm sure that he feels something for you, or he would not go against his family's tradition so extremely in this way. It's not my business what goes on between the two of you. But even if it's just friendship, a friend can be very valuable, especially a friend like Shikamaru."

Neji stared at him incredulously. He was a shinobi, not some mooning schoolgirl! He didn't care whether or not Nara-san wanted to be his friend, and he certainly wasn't looking for anything more. Quite the contrary.

Aoba rapped at the doorframe. "The Kazekage is in the Ceremony Room."

With a final, meaningful look at Neji, Iruka rose. "We're ready." Neji followed him down the hall to the outer part of the Kazekage's office, where Nara-san was waiting. Neji's eyes met Nara-san's.

"Well, Shiruki," Nara-san said, "let's do this thing."

###

Let's do this thing. Shikamaru still wanted to run away, he still had no real idea what to expect, but what he had just heard from Aoba had horrified him but strengthened his resolve. He walked next to Hyuuga-san down the hall, following Iruka and Aoba. They stopped before a large room with a carved panel of tortoises above the door. The Ceremony Room! He had seen this room before. Weddings were conducted here, and the blessing of newborn babies. He had not thought the Pet Ceremony would take place in here, but more simply, in the Kazekage's office. Being in here made it almost…like a wedding. He had never imagined he would be in this room, so soon, and for this purpose.

Inside the room, he could see Tsunade-sama sitting before an altar, a couple of kneeling mats placed in front of her. As he had expected, there were few others, just her guards, Kabuto, looking well-rested and devious, and the requisite elder, in this case Ebizo, the brother of Chiyo.

Iruka struck a small gong to begin the ceremony. He bowed to the Kazekage, motioning them to do the same.

Lady Tsunade beckoned them forward. "Kneel please, and take each other's hands."

Every part of Shikamaru's mind that wasn't stunned into silence was yelling a huge NO as he slowly knelt on the mat before the Kazekage. Hyuuga-san caught his eye for a fraction of a second before he too stiffly knelt.

"Take hands," Iruka prompted them.

Shikamaru reached for Hyuuga-san's hand and found it clenched into a fist. He gingerly covered it with his own.

"From now on, you will be responsible for each other's lives. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Shikamaru mumbled, and after a moment he heard the Hyuuga follow suit.

"Master, you will provide this Pet with food and water, shelter, clothing, proper hygiene, medical care, and training. If the need arises to discipline him, you will not be unnecessarily cruel. If his life should end, you will give him a proper burial."

Shikamaru supposed he could uphold this pact. He had no problem with providing the basic necessities, and he did not intend to discipline Hyuuga-san. Indeed, he did not intend to go near him, if he could help it.

"Pet, you will put no others before your Master. You will be faithful and submit to him, and hold his life above your own. In addition, you will forswear loyalty to any other village or country and pledge your fealty to Suna. Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae."

Entering the village, obey the village. Hyuuga-san tensed at these words, so much so that Shikamaru could feel the muscles shift under his skin.

"Since your native country has been hostile to Suna in the past," the Kazekage continued, "there will be restrictions in place. For the first six weeks, you may walk around the village only when accompanied by your Master. For the first six months, you may not leave the village. When the six months are up, you may leave the village accompanied by your Master. When a year is up, you are free to come and go as you please."

When a year is up, hopefully he'll be gone, Shikamaru thought.

"You cannot abandon or break with each other. This contract is binding and upheld by law. It will end only when this Pet is sold to another Master or legally freed, or with the death of either of you. Do you both understand and swear?"

It is like a wedding, Shikamaru thought, with these vows. His throat felt dry and tight and for a moment he wondered if he would be able to speak the words. What would happen if he just got up, right now, and walked out of here?

Beneath his hand, Hyuuga-san's clenched fist quivered slightly, like a trapped bird, reminding Shikamaru of why he was doing this.

What would happen? He would be given back to Orochimaru, to be killed...or worse.

Shikamaru cleared his throat. "Yes, Kazekage-sama." A long moment passed before Hyuuga-san repeated the words after him, in a voice almost too low to be heard.

Lady Tsunade produced a small round cup and her ever-present jug of sake. She poured a little of the sake into the cup and handed it to Shikamaru. "Master, you drink first, and then your Pet."

Right down to this, Shikamaru thought. It was like the sansan-kudo, the ritual drinking of sake that sealed a wedding ceremony. He took a sip and handed the cup to Hyuuga-san, who stared at it suspiciously before taking the tiniest sip possible.

Lady Tsunade bowed her head for a moment. "By the powers vested in me as Kazekage, I will now administer the Pet Mark." Kabuto pushed his glasses up with one finger, watching intently. "As Shizune is away, I will be doing the seal myself."

That was a good thing, Shikamaru thought, wasn't it? There was no-one more skilled than Tsunade-sama.

Lady Tsunade motioned them a little closer. "Pet, lean forward please. Master, hold out your hand."

Shikamaru froze. Beside him he could see Hyuuga-san surreptitiously watching him from the corner of his eye, ready to follow Shikamaru's lead. But he felt as though his mind had gone completely blank. He couldn't seem to make his muscles move, or his vocal cords work.

"Shikamaru," Iruka prompted in his schoolteacher's voice, "that's you." Shikamaru could hear some subdued snickering at that.

Shikamaru took a deep breath. "Uhh…which one?" he managed to croak out. "Which hand, I mean."

"Whichever hand you will find it easiest to use," the Kazekage said. He supposed the Mark was painful, and might make it more difficult to use that hand. He was right-handed, so he held out his left. Beside him, Hyuuga-san bent forward, looking tense.

The Kazekage made a series of hand signals, then pressed the palm of one hand flat against Hyuuga-san's forehead, and the other against the back of Shikamaru's left hand. "Fugou shishou!"

Shikamaru felt an intense, stinging vibration, as if a hundred bees had attacked his hand. Hyuuga-san jerked his head back slightly, looking shocked.

"It is done," Iruka pronounced. "You are now Pet and Master." He struck the small gong again once, signaling the end of the ceremony.

Shikamaru got to his feet, and Hyuuga-san followed suit, still touching his forehead gingerly with his fingertips. The guards went out first, checking to see if the hall was clear.

Lady Tsunade made a small bow to the elder. "Ebizo-san, would you like to come have a drink of sake with me?"

Shikamaru stood aside so they could pass. He was now officially the first Nara to ever take a Pet. Did he look different? He didn't really feel any different, other than the soreness in his hand. But even that was subsiding.

###

The burning in Neji's forehead seemed to be escalating as he bowed to the passing Kazekage. He pulled the headband he had brought from his pocket and tied it into place, hoping it might ease the pain somewhat.

This headache was nothing, however, just a minor inconvenience. The real pain came from knowing how far he had fallen. He was now the first Hyuuga to be a Pet. He had sworn loyalty to another country. He even looked different now. He had let them brand him.

Kabuto came up to them, his eyes gleaming maliciously behind his round glasses. "I hope the new Master and Pet will both be very happy together. And I'm sure your families will both be very proud."

Nara-san crossed his arms, looking bored and annoyed. But Neji had seen the almost imperceptible flinch. "As I'm sure your family is of you," Nara-san said.

Neji saw a flash of anger in Kabuto's face, quickly concealed. "Lord Orochimaru is my family, and yes, he is—"

"Spare us your pathetic life story," Neji snapped. "I personally hope you and the rest of that clan all die in as painful a way as possible."

"Your Pet," Kabuto said, emphasizing the word as he addressed Nara-san, "is not very civilized. You may need to discipline him."

"Why don't you ask Orochimaru to discipline you?" Nara-san suggested. "I'm sure we'd all enjoy that much more."

"Lord Orochimar—" Kabuto began, but was interrupted by Iruka stepping in.

"The ceremony is over," Iruka said, frowning at Kabuto. "Please have a safe trip back to your village."

Kabuto seemed about to say something, but then simply turned around and walked away. Neji and Shikamaru looked at one another. Shikamaru was half-smiling, as though he had liked Neji's comment to Kabuto. Neji thought his had been pretty good as well.

"So," Neji said as they walked down the stairs from the Kazekage's office, "what now?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Since you're going to be here awhile, we should probably get you some clothes and whatever else you need."

They stepped out into the heat of the day. The sun was high overhead and blazing down, the brightness sending a shard of pain through Neji's head. Involuntarily, he winced and shut his eyes.

"Oh, I forgot, you're probably not used to this sun," Shikamaru said. He pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pack and held them out to Neji. "Here, put these on."

The sunglasses helped, but the seal on Neji's head still throbbed. He wondered if Nara-san's hand was hurting as much. If so, he wasn't showing it, and Neji was not going to be the first to bring it up. He was certainly tougher than Nara-san.

The streets of Suna were not as populated as Konoha, but there were still a fair amount of people out, strolling and eating lunch, conducting business and chatting. He followed Nara-san through the streets, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible. He had no desire for anyone to see him as a Pet.

They stopped in at various shops to get toiletries, hairbrushes, and most mortifying of all, underwear. Neji had never thought he would have another man buying him underwear. Well, at least not while he was present, as his uncle of course paid for all his clothing.

He felt overwhelmed by the array of unfamiliar products, the smells of food and animals, the heat, and the gaudily colored and immodestly cut clothing. He realized he had never really shopped for himself. All the necessities were purchased by Hyuuga servants, and every Hyuuga got a new set of clothes on New Year's. He could find nothing in the shops here that resembled the Hyuuga robes.

"Why don't we just go to the tailor," Nara-san suggested after the third fruitless visit to a clothing shop. "You can tell them what you want and they'll make it for you."

The tailor shop was located on a wide, sunny street. A bolt of cloth was on display outside the shop. It was midnight blue silk, embroidered with an intricate pattern of flying cranes. The embroidery was extraordinarily fine in every detail; the black markings on the wings, the pattern of light and shade, the graceful curve of the legs. For a moment, Neji was transfixed. Looking at it, he felt uplifted, as if for one moment he could transcend the realities of his life.

"You like that?" Nara-san's lazy voice said at his elbow.

Neji turned sharply. "Of course not. It's frivolous and impractical. I want plain black and white cotton robes."

Nara-san shrugged. "Okay, tell the guy, then." Neji followed him in, where he tried to describe to the aged tailor what normal Hyuuga robes looked like. The tailor made a few drawings, but they did not resemble anything Neji had ever worn.

"Wait here, I'll get the book." The tailor disappeared into a back room. The shop felt almost unbearably hot, and the pain in Neji's head seemed to have spread all over his body, especially his broken ribs. He felt like he was suffocating, like he might pass out from the pain. Fighting dizziness, he leaned against the wall.

###

Shikamaru felt an intense tingling in the back of his left hand, as if it had gone to sleep. Then, in the next instant, a wave of pain swept through his body. It felt as if he had been kicked all over by horses, especially in the chest and head. He staggered and grunted at the shock of it.

A moment later, as suddenly as it had come, the pain subsided. He shook his head, bewildered. What in the hell had that been?

Looking around for Hyuuga-san, he spotted the Hyuuga leaning against the wall, looking grayish, a hand pressed to his head. Was he feeling it too, whatever it was? He had been injured already, so it must be twice as bad.

Shikamaru made his way over. "Hyuuga-san? Are you all right?"

The Hyuuga straightened up, glaring at Shikamaru. "Of course."

"Do you want some water, maybe, or something –"

"I just need some fresh air." Hyuuga-san pushed past him, out onto the street. But he didn't look much better out there.

"Maybe we should call it a day on the shopping. The heat might be getting to you. I'm not feeling so great myself." Actually, he felt fine. The pain, while terrible, had passed as quickly as it had come. But he did not want Hyuuga-san to turn this into a test of pride and will.

Hyuuga-san, surprisingly, did not protest. He followed Shikamaru through the streets back to the Nara complex, walking doggedly through traffic as if he might collapse if he stopped moving. The walk seemed to take forever, but finally they were home. Shikamaru walked gratefully into the courtyard, then stopped as a thought hit him. He could not take Hyuuga-san back to the holding cells. Hyuuga-san was his Pet now, not a prisoner.

"Hmm…we should get the guest room ready for you…it needs cleaning and all. How about just for tonight you can stay on my spare futon."

Once again Hyuuga-san gave no objection. He waited while Shikamaru unrolled the futon and then sank down onto it without a word, sitting rigidly with his back against the wall. Shikamaru was starting to get worried.

"Listen, I don't know what's happening, but maybe we should go back to the Kazekage's office and –"

"No," the Hyuuga said shortly.

"She's a doctor, and she's done this before. Even if she's not available, we can find a medic –"

"I said no."

"Hyuuga-san, you need –"

Crash! A book struck the wall next to him. Shikamaru stared at it in disbelief. Hyuuga-san had seized it from the small table next to the futon and flung it at him. He truly was like a wild animal.

"Are you hungry? Would you like –"

"No."

"Maybe just some tea?"

Hyuuga-san spoke through gritted teeth. "Would you close the shades, please?"

Shikamaru did as he asked, then headed to the kitchen to brew tea. What on earth was wrong with Hyuuga-san? He hoped it was just heat and stress aggravating the injuries he already had. If only he were not so paranoid about the doctor… But Shikamaru supposed he had good reason to be that way.

He gazed through the window at the sky outside while the water for the tea boiled, as usual feeling calmed by the clouds. He recalled the moment outside the tailor shop; Hyuuga-san looking at the silk fabric with the cranes. There had been a kind of peace on his face that Shikamaru had never seen before.

The high whistle of the teakettle brought him out of his reverie and he turned, feeling an unaccountable sadness.

He had poured two cups of tea and was getting ready to carry them back to the room when without warning it struck again, the tingling on the back of his hand – where he had the Pet Mark – and then the excruciating pain, this time combined with a rush of lightheadedness. He cried out, the tray slipping from his hand, cups smashing onto the tile floor, hot tea splashing his toes. And then, just as before, as suddenly as it had come on, it passed, leaving him shaken amidst a jumble of broken pottery and spilled tea.

He cleaned up the mess, re-poured the tea, and headed back toward his room. He walked cautiously, afraid of the pain attacks, but it did not happen this time. He felt okay. It was a shock to reach the room and find that Hyuuga-san did not. The Hyuuga was sitting with his knees drawn tightly up, his wrists pressed to his forehead and his hands knotted into fists, breathing harshly through his clenched teeth.

Shikamaru set the tea down in alarm. "Hyuuga-san, you look terrible. Are you feeling worse?"

Hyuuga-san's voice came out of the dim light, low and venomous. "Why are you asking that? What have you done to me?"

"I – I don't know, I don't know what's going on. Will you please let me get a doctor?"

In answer, another book came hurtling through the air, just missing his head. Hyuuga-san was destroying his room, but that was the least of his worries.

Maybe there was a reason Hyuugas were not made Pets, besides the obvious fact that they were fierce and scary. But maybe something in their bloodline made the Pet Seal impossible to take.

Or maybe it was his own clan; maybe there was a reason the Naras did not keep Pets. If only his parents were here to ask about it.

But they were gone, and he had no idea who to turn to. His friends and Asuma-sensei were all as opposed to keeping Pets as his family was, and he didn't feel like going through all the long troublesome explanations he would have to give, when he had a crisis on his hands right now. Ibiki and most of the other shinobi here disliked North Country people, and many had a superstitious fear of the White-Eyes. Shizune would have been the logical person to ask, but she was away. Kakashi might know, as he also kept a Pet, but Shikamaru had no idea where he was, and he didn't want to leave Hyuuga-san alone like this.

The earlier sense of almost-camaraderie with Hyuuga-san, of being in this bad situation together, was gone. He had never felt so alone.

He did not know who to blame most – Orochimaru and Kabuto, for being so evil they dragged everyone else down with them; his parents, for not sticking around in this tough situation; the Kazekage, who might have warned them this would happen; Hyuuga-san, for choosing his stables to hide out in…

Or himself. He was supposed to be a genius, yet it seemed he had come up with the stupidest idea possible. From that first meeting, his impulsive decision to protect Hyuuga-san, everything had gone terribly wrong. He had dishonored his family, blown all his savings, and now he and this Hyuuga seemed to be linked in some kind of strangeness with the Pet Mark…or whatever was happening. He himself had only had flashes of it, but Hyuuga-san looked like he was really suffering. How bad would it get? Was he dying?

What had he done?

###

What had he done?

Neji shifted position on the futon, trying to keep his eyes open enough to make sure he could see what Nara-san was up to. It was difficult; the light exacerbated the splitting pain in his head. Right now Nara-san was just staring at him, looking helpless. So either he had tricked Neji into trusting him enough to do this monumentally foolish thing, or he had been a pawn in somebody else's plot, most likely his father's. Or maybe it was Ibiki, or this doctor person…maybe it was even some kind of diabolical scheme with Orochimaru, to punish him for the death of Kidoumaru. Whatever it was, Neji hated him, his whole family, his whole village, and his whole country.

But even more than that, he hated himself for falling for it. You might have thought that someone who was supposedly a genius would learn from his mistakes, but no, he had made the same one twice, believing their lies like a gullible idiot.

He had left home full of grand dreams: he would follow in Uchiha Itachi's footsteps, become known and feared throughout the land for his fighting prowess, prove to his family that he was the rightful heir to the Hyuugas.

But what had happened? He had let himself be deceived by Orochimaru, and then…worse…

His hands clenched into fists, so tightly that he could feel the nails digging into his palms, as he recalled Kidoumaru. That he had let himself be taken like that…he would have to live with that shame for the rest of his life.

But the darkest, deepest, most shameful part was that he had wanted Kidoumaru.

And to get away from that, he had stupidly gone along with this plan, blindly following the Naras into yet another trap, letting his fear overtake him…and now…

And now…

…he was lower than an animal, a slave – no, worse, a personal slave – for this spineless, lazy boy, who was apparently content to lounge around playing games all day long. No doubt he regarded this whole thing as another game. What his objective was, Neji could only guess. He did not believe for a moment that Nara Shikamaru had taken him as a Pet on principle and actually meant to set him free.

He should have refused, even if it meant his death. He should have killed Nara Shikamaru yesterday and then taken his chances with the Otogakure thugs. They were spread out…he might have had a chance with only two or three…

But now, what? His mind went around and around, like an animal in a too-small cage, seeking some way out, and he could find none.

He could probably knock out Nara-san and try to escape, but then what?

Even if the pain wasn't making it hard to breathe or move or even think clearly; even if he could somehow evade the Nara guards and the village guards and Orochimaru's people; even if he could find his way, in the dark, on foot, over thousands of miles of unfamiliar lands…even if, against all odds, he managed to somehow make it back…what was there for him?

He had cut all ties with his clan, by attacking the very person he was supposed to help and protect. He had no illusions they would welcome him back after that. His uncle might have spoken up for him in the past, but not this time. Hinata was his daughter; it wasn't likely he would overlook the fact that Neji had almost killed her.

And even if they did not throw him into prison, or disown him; even if they somehow were willing to give him a second chance – then what?

He would be back where he started, as Hinata's bodyguard.

And did he really deserve to be anything more? Had he done anything since he left to bring honor to his clan, to show that he was a great warrior, a worthy leader? Had he done anything at all that he could be proud of? Even Hinata, for all that she was weak and fairly worthless, had never gotten herself into a situation like this.

It did not matter anymore that he had not taken his father's sword. He did not deserve to carry it. He had dishonored his clan, he had dishonored himself, and these things could not be undone. His past was shame, his present situation was hell.

He could see only one way out.

###

A.N.: Dark night of the soul for Shikamaru and Neji, eh? Thanks for reading, everyone! And if you've taken the time to read this far, please just take another minute or so and leave a review! Thanks!

And I have to tell you guys something very cool! I just got back from visiting relatives in MD, and while I was there we took a boat out to this island that is a nature preserve. Guess what animals live there…Shika deer! (Shout-out to moi, I'm sure! ;-p )