Escort Mission: After

Author's notes: Kudos to Kuma because she's freaking hilarious. This is half in Hidden Hot Water and Half in Konoha. Neji also gets mad at Ino.

Rated M for sexy scenes between two males, swearing, drinking, and gore.

Don't own, borrowing.

"Neji-sama,"

Neji opened his eyes to see Roku smiling down at him. Neji sat up slowly and blinked. It was evening, almost seventeen hundred hours. Their clothes had been placed neatly on the night tables. Bags had been moved to a neater position and a bowl of fruit sat on their table. A candle had been lit and Neji knew Roku had cleaned the bathroom.

"The Mukai couple are requesting you meet them at their room at eighteen hundred hours for dinner," Roku said.

"Ah, thank you," Neji told him.

He nodded and left as quietly as he had entered. Neji noticed Tora had her eyes half open to see what had been happening. Kuma and Akino were still sleeping deeply. Neji shifted off the bed and made sure his robe was fully closed.

"Tora, I am going to take a quick shower. Then you can. We'll wake up Kuma and Akino when we are both done," Neji said.

She flushed but nodded. Neji took the clothes he had come in with him into the bathroom before showering quickly. Once done he kept the towel wrapped around his waist to brush out his hair. He noticed there was four of everything: face towels, body towels, shampoo, body wash, loofa, bars of soap, tooth brushes, and medium towels. Neji smirked before dressing and stepping out of the bathroom. Tora entered after him, still red and Neji kept his laugh back.

Kuma had sat up in bed, blinking around the room in wonder. She yawned large enough Neji could almost see her tonsils and stretched her arms above her head. She stared at Neji as he crossed the room fully dressed and sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his shoes.

"You can be next to shower," Neji told Kuma.

"Okay," Kuma said.

Neji looked over at Akino who still slept peacefully on one side. He began working on his mission report as Kuma and Tora switched. Tora kept brushing her hair out then started to braid it as Akino woke with a yawn, rubbing the back of his head.

"Kuma should be out in a few minutes then you can shower," Neji told him from the desk.

Akino grunted in response, made sure his robe was secure then grabbed his clothes. He switched with Kuma five minutes later and Tora, hair braided back, re-applied a bandage to Kuma's arm.

"I don't know what we'd do without you," Kuma said.

Tora jolted then flushed. Neji kept his grin back but was glad Kuma had unintentionally said the exact thing Tora needed to hear. Kuma came over with Tora and the two began making notes about the mission. Akino grumbled as he came out of the shower fully dressed. Tora repaired his injuries again and Neji checked the sky. They had ten minutes.

"We will be meeting the Mukai for dinner in ten minutes," Neji said.

All three looked at him.

"We will be staying tonight and tomorrow on their ryo, leaving in the morning the day after tomorrow. It is likely Hajime-san will request us to bring them back to Konoha once their honeymoon is over."

Kuma beamed. Akino smirked, his shoulders relaxing, and Tora smiled. Neji shifted to lean on the table and gave them a small grin.

"I am proud of all of you. You followed my instructions perfectly and protected the Mukai when it came to do so. Each of you played a vital role on this mission and without you three the mission would not have gone as well as it did. You deserve these two days off but do remember we are still on mission until we leave."

The shift from happiness to seriousness made Neji chuckle to himself. The three nodded and they began to pack up their mission reports. They made sure the room was in order before Neji led them to the Mukai's room. The couple was waiting for them when Neji and his students got there, so were Kado and Toju.

Neji mostly led them towards the restaurant, the one place Neji had not frequented on his vacation here but did not mind. They got a table for eight, Neji sitting between Tora and Kuma, Akino beside Kuma while Kado, Toju, Hajime, and Nami sat across from them.

"You must be Kuma," Kado said to the red-head.

Kuma nodded with her lips parted. Her eyes met Neji's and he kept a blank expression on his face as Kado chuckled.

"Your sensei told us about the three of you while he vacationed here last month," Kado said.

"Ah, that is why you know this place," Hajime said.

Neji inclined his head.

"I wondered why Roku said you could give us the tour if we wanted," Hajime went on.

"It is beautiful here," Nami mentioned.

"The springs are amazing," Kado added.

Neji nodded in agreement as his students absorbed the fact Neji had talked about them while on vacation. Kado smiled.

"Now, if I remember correctly, Tora, you're the potential medical-shinobi and Akino, you're the powerhouse while Kuma is the speed. Well rounded team, if I say so myself," Kado said.

"I've never seen a fighting style like Kuma's," Hajime said. "Pure speed and kicks I didn't think were possible. Her aim is remarkable, quite frankly I'm surprised she's not a chunin."

This made Kuma turn as red as her hair. She hid her face in her menu but got out a thanks. The waitress came around and Hajime ordered two taster platters for the table. Water and tea was brought over quickly as well as sake for Kado and Toju.

"And I can see how Akino will be the powerhouse. The cart he carried took two horses to move and he ran with it like it was nothing. Simply astonishing," Hajime went on.

Akino coughed and rubbed the back of his head, a light flush coming to his cheeks. Neji noticed Tora was staring too intently at her menu.

"And Tora? My god, she sensed those enemies before I knew they were there and was able to point out which direction they would attack from. She's the reason Nami and I were able to make an escape. If there was a third with her and Akino we could have gotten away safely," Hajime said with a smile.

Tora blushed and thanked him happily. Neji grinned as they began to nibble on the food in front of them.

"I do understand your strategy though in staying back with Kuma," Hajime told him.

Neji could say nothing as his mouth was full of seasoned chicken. He did nod.

"You two are the fastest and could get back to us the quickest once you were finished with the other three. Plus you could find us the easiest with the Byakugan. It's no wonder you were made jonin so young," Hajime said.

Neji thanked him properly as Kado laughed.

"Praise all around," Kado said. "Aren't the chunin exams coming up?"

Neji blinked then shrugged. He honestly had not checked when the chunin exams were to be held this year. He saw all three of his students perk up at attention and look at him. Neji raised and eyebrow and they pouted.

"I heard from Ino-san the exams would be in two months," Nami said.

Ino, again. Not that Neji minded too much but his genin were not ready for the chunin exams. Sure, they had beaten down Sound Shinobi and protected the Mukai couple but it did not mean they were ready to go forward as chunin.

Akino wasn't fast enough, Tora's aim and her recovery from falls still needed work, and Kuma needed to perfect her chakra control. Plus he wanted to teach them all one elemental release based on their elements before they took the exams.

"So are these three going to be going into the exam?" Kado asked.

Neji let out a breath as his students looked up at him with eyes wide. Tora had her lip between her teeth. Kuma vibrated in her seat and Akino had stiffened. Thankfully the waitress came to take their orders. Neji ordered herring soba with a side of brown rice and cucumber salad. He did not pay full attention to the others and the waitress left.

"So?" Kado questioned.

"No," Neji said.

His students deflated. Kuma almost fell backwards out of her chair. Kado raised an eyebrow in question but Toju kept the shock off his face. Hajime's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Nami covered her open mouth with a hand.

"May I ask why not?" Hajime enquired.

Neji kept his smirk back and met the man's eyes, making sure to narrow his a bit so he did not seem too intimidating.

"Akino should have been able to avoid more of the injuries he took but he could not because he is not fast enough yet. Tora's aim and recovery from falls is still something she needs to work on while Kuma's chakra control is not up to par. I also want to teach them some jutsu based on the elements they are able to release," Neji said.

Everyone gaped at him in awe. Neji said nothing and refrained from fiddling with his napkin. Kado grinned.

"A lot can happen in two months," Kado said.

Neji inclined his head in agreement.

"And if I feel my genin have gotten to where I want them in a little less than two months, then yes, they will be in the chunin exams. If not, we will wait until next year," Neji said.

"Next year?" Kuma got out.

She had half-stood and had her hands palm down on the table in shock. Neji nodded.

"My team waited a year before we took the chunin exams and we all failed," Neji told her.

She sat back down with a thunk.

"The chunin exams are a lot tougher than most genin expect. There will be people older than you who know much more and have gone on many more missions in the exams as well as people who could be a jonin level who simply did not have the time to gain the rank. I have a feeling both Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke will find a third to participate and trust me, they are not easy to beat," Neji said.

Kado and Toju nodded solemnly. Tora gulped. Akino scowled. Kuma pouted. Their food came and it busied them for some time. Neji had not realized how hungry he had been until he started eating his main meal.

"But you beat Uchiha in five minutes," Kuma said.

Neji raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.

"I disabled his Sharingan, something none of you three can do. It's the only reason I beat him in five minutes and I doubt I'll get to do it again because he will know it's the first thing I'll do. Plus I am a jonin," Neji said.

Kuma frowned and let out a puff of air. She had rice stuck to her face but Neji knew she didn't care. The meal progressed well afterwards and Neji happily showed the Mukai couple around the Resort. Kado and Toju went out to the bar and the Mukai followed.

"You can go with them if you want, Neji-sensei," Tora said.

Neji chuckled but shook his head. He rested a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"That's fine, really. I don't intend to stay up till oh-two hundred hours or later. Come on, let's finish up the first half of our mission reports," Neji said.

Tora was the one who beamed while Akino muttered his word and Kuma huffed. The night was relaxing and Neji grinned as his students went over the details of the mission so far with each other. At twenty-two hundred hours, Neji suggested they get some sleep.

He said nothing when Kuma and Tora began blushing as Neji took off his vest. His mesh shirt, arm wraps, gloves, hitai-ate, bandana, and shoes came next. Neji undid his pants but kept them on before getting into bed.

He kept his mouth shut as Akino took off his shirt and shoes before getting into bed. Neji closed his eyes as the girls got ready for bed and shut off the lights. Neji let out a little breath as his mind settled. Kuma would want to spar tomorrow. Perhaps he could distracter her with the hot springs and village instead.

Neji stared at the red-headed terror currently sitting in his lap and grinning at him. Kuma had decided to wake him up in typical Kuma fashion: by jumping onto him from the edge of the bed. Neji blinked at her before looking towards the clock on the night side table.

"Kuma, it's barely six in the morning. Why the hell are you waking me up?" Neji asked.

Kuma kept smiling at him and Neji wondered where the Hell she got the energy from so damned early. He noticed Akino hadn't woken up yet (lucky bastard) and even Tora still slept on, unaware Kuma was being horrid.

"Technically we're an hour late for training," Kuma said.

Neji stared at her but the damnable grin did not leave her face. Neji groaned and let his upper body fall back into the bed. He put an arm over his eyes and tried to ignore the red-head genin who had started poking his navel ring.

"C'mon Neji-sensei! There's lots of room in the garden we can train in."

This had to be a dream. There was no possible way Kuma was waking him up so early to go train in the gardens of a resort meant for people to relax in. A tug on his navel ring sent a little jolt of pain through his belly and Neji sighed. Kuma was as bad as Lee.

"Go back to sleep," Neji told her.

She poked him again. Neji moved his arm from covering his eyes and glared at her. She flinched but started grinning again a moment later. Damn. She was all ready becoming immune to his glares.

"But you said we're still on mission," Kuma said.

He sighed. She poked him again.

"The people we're protecting won't be awake until noon. That's six hours from now," Neji said.

Kuma nodded, still smiling.

"Exactly! That means we get six hours to train!"

No. Kuma was worse than Lee and Neji had never thought he would live to see the day. He sighed again and groaned when she poked him. She had some odd fascination with his navel ring but Neji was too tired to consider why.

She shifted upwards and Neji scowled as she placed a hand on his chest, right above his heart, so she could lightly run a hand over the scar on his left upper chest. A little frown came to her face and Neji said nothing as she explored the spiral-like scar.

"This almost killed you," Kuma said.

Neji nodded. She kept touching the scar softly and Neji watched her. Finally she shook her head and sat back again. She kept her hands on his stomach, a little bit above his hips and Neji idly wondered if she knew how sexual the touch could seem.

"Training?" Kuma asked, complete with a puppy dog look.

Neji snorted and shook his head. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at him. Neji raised an eyebrow at her but she continued the staring contest. The both jolted when Akino groaned and sat up.

"You suck, Kuma," Akino mumbled.

"I woke you up?" Kuma questioned.

"Annoying," Akino grumbled.

"Yay! Now that three of us are up we can train," Kuma said.

Akino blinked at her then pushed her off Neji. Neji chuckled when Kuma yelped but caught herself decently, considering. She was back on the bed within moments, tackling Akino who grunted. Neji said nothing as the two began grappling on the bed. Kuma managed to get a pillow in one hand and Neji sat up as she began whacking Akino over the head with it. She kept up a maniacal laugh as she hit and Akino pushed her off again.

She must have landed on a hand because she flipped into the bed she had slept in. Tora woke with a yelp then smacked Kuma on the back of the head with a pillow. Kuma spun and the two girls began fighting with the pillows on their bed. Tora got the extra one and Kuma fell off the bed with a thunk, still laughing.

"Now we're all up! Training?" Kuma asked.

Neji could see the stars in her eyes. He sighed. Tora snarled. Akino groaned.

"No," Tora shouted.

She tossed both pillows at Kuma with a force Neji did not think Tora capable of. Neji frowned when Akino added Neji's pillow. Kuma giggled. Tora ran a hand through her tangled and messy hair and crossed her arms over her chest. She scowled at Kuma who sat up out of the pillow mess with a smile on her face.

"Annoying," Akino muttered.

Neji smirked as Akino reached down, grabbed a pillow then fell back into bed with the pillow over his head. Kuma jumped onto the bed again, landing on Akino this time and he groaned in annoyance. Neji sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"C'mon, training," Kuma said.

"No,"

Neji chuckled as he, Akino, and Tora had been perfectly in sync. Kuma stopped and her mouth dropped in awe.

"Three-to-one negative vote plus Neji-sensei is our sensei so lay off," Akino said.

Kuma pouted.

"Besides, this is a resort Kuma, you know a place people come to relax," Tora added.

Kuma sighed then nodded.

"Okay fine, but what can we do?" Kuma asked.

"Sleep," Akino answered.

Neji snickered at the look on Kuma's face. Tora put her glasses on then seemed to realize she was in a state in front of her sensei. Tora went red from her neck to the tips of her ears and disappeared in the bathroom. Neji blinked but shook his head.

"Akino, I give you permission to sleep," Neji said.

"Yay," Akino said from under his pillow.

Neji smirked.

"Do be up by oh-eight hundred though. We'll meet in at the sushi bar for breakfast then go exploring the village," Neji said.

Akino grunted in acknowledgement. Neji got out of bed and got dressed swiftly. Kuma bounced around him when he picked up his hair brush and he relented to letting her brush his hair. Neji had to sit at one of the chairs so she could reach the top of his head but he didn't mind.

Tora came out of the bathroom as Kuma started and the other girl stared. She grinned and Neji sighed as Tora came to join Kuma in grooming Neji. He said nothing as the two brushed out his hair.

"Wow, you have really pretty hair Neji-sensei," Kuma said.

"Yeah, it's perfect," Tora added.

"Thank you," Neji said.

He said nothing as the two sat behind him running their fingers through his tangle-free hair. Neji couldn't help closing his eyes at the light massage. He gulped when one of their hands accidently brushed against the back of his neck. Neji pushed back the shiver then shook his head. The girls whined but Neji got to his feet. He walked over to where his bandana sat and tugged it on.

Tora finished getting ready as Neji pulled on his hitai-ate, wraps, and gloves. He went to the bathroom next to relieve his bladder and wash his face. When he came back out the girls had repaired their bed. Neji nodded to them before leading them out of the room.

They settled at the sushi bar by a few minutes after seven. Neji had tea, Kuma milk, and Tora mango juice. Akino joined them less than an hour later and they ate happily before leaving the resort to go into the village.

Kuma led the way while Tora stayed by Neji's side. Akino stayed half a step back. Kuma had no issues walking from stall to stall to look over wares. Neji followed behind his enthusiastic genin as she looked over everything that caught her eye.

Tora soon joined Kuma but Akino stayed near Neji, eyes glancing over stalls with eyelids half-lidded. Neji said nothing to Akino's boredom or the girls' happiness. They stopped by a cafe for lunch then headed back by noon and met with Hajime, Nami, Kado, and Toju in the hallway.

"Ah, Neji-san, we were headed to the hot springs," Hajime said.

Neji could tell as they were all wearing robes.

"Join us," Kado said.

"Of course," Neji said.

He led his genin into the room and the girls darted into the bathroom to strip, cheeks pink. Neji easily changed into his robe and slippers with Akino in the room, taking a small towel with him as well as the room key. Tora and Kuma joined with red still across their cheeks. Tora had put her hair up into a bun at the top of her head neatly. Kuma's was up but not neatly.

The four joined the others in the hallway and strode towards the hot springs together. Tora and Kuma went with Nami into the women's springs. Akino followed Neji, Kado, Hajime, and Toju into the men's springs. Soon they were soaking in the water, Hajime to Neji's right and Akino to Neji's left. Kado settled beside Hajime and Toju beside Kado.

"Ah, this is the life," Kado said.

"How long are you two planning to stay here?" Neji asked.

Kado laughed happily as Toju smirked.

"We've decided to stay on permanently, might as well," Kado said. "We've got enough ryo saved up to do it and hell, we're old enough we might as well spend the last few years of our life relaxing."

Neji inclined his head and laughed at Akino who leaned back his head until he could rest in an almost sleeping position. Kado directed the conversation to Hajime's wedding and plans for the rest of the trip. Neji listened with half an ear and soaked in the soothing hot waters. They came out after forty-five minutes to cool off then went back into the water.

Hajime offered to take them all to dinner at 6PM and they left the springs for this. The meal was as pleasant as the last and Neji excused himself and his students at 8PM when the other four meant to head to the bars again.

"We will be leaving early in the morning to head back to Konoha," Neji said.

"Ah, yes, well this is good-bye then. Thank you again for everything," Hajime said.

Neji bowed as Hajime did and shook his hand when they straightened. Neji kept his face blank when Hajime slipped Neji a small bag. It was light and Neji supposed it was filled with ryo as a tip.

"Do not argue against this," Hajime said with a smile.

"Fine," Neji said.

Hajime chuckled and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"We will send the Hokage-sama notice when we're ready to come to Konoha. I want you and your team to bring us back," Hajime said.

Neji inclined his head with a nod.

"Say hello to Kankuro of the Sand for us as well," Nami mentioned.

Neji felt his cheeks heat and knew Ino had something to do with Nami knowing about Kankuro. Sure, he and Kankuro were touchy in the village but he had been as physical with Kiba and Shikamaru. The Elders hadn't cared then because there weren't rumors going around about Neji being with either man. Now the Village knew he was with Kankuro because of Ino.

Neji kept his face blank but nodded to Nami. Kado winked at him and Toju smirked. Good-byes were exchanged and Neji watched the retired jonin and newly-wed couple head out.

He let out a little breath of anger before turning to his team who were staring at him. He would deal with Ino when they got back to Konoha. Until then, she was nothing.

"Let's finish off what we can for our mission reports and separate this into four equal parts," Neji said.

They nodded and Neji unlocked the room. He made sure the door was locked behind him before joining his genin at the table. He had finished the report as had Tora. All they would have to add was the trip back which would hopefully be uneventful. Neji opened the bag and pulled the pile of ryo out of the purse. He unfolded the stack and gaped in awe.

"Neji-sensei?" Kuma questioned.

Neji looked up at her as she tilted her head to him. Neji began counting out the ryo as his students watched. Tora and Kuma began gaping, Akino joining in shortly after.

"Eighty-thousand ryo," Neji said.

It was twenty thousand a piece. They had been paid more as a tip then they would get for the mission once they got back to Konoha. This wasn't even including the tip of the kimonos or the two nights at the resort and meals.

"That's, that's," Tora said.

"More than the mission," Kuma finished for her.

Akino nodded with his eyes still wide. Neji nodded and began counting out twenty thousand a pile. His students watched and he passed them each a pile. Kuma rolled hers up and tucked it into her bag quickly. Akino and Tora did the same. Neji stashed his in a pocket inside his vest that did up.

"Do we tell the Hokage?" Tora asked.

"Yes, of course," Neji replied. "It is a tip though so we will not be punished for it. Sometimes clients give us a bit of something for completing a mission."

They nodded. Neji motioned to the mission reports and Akino groaned. Neji chuckled but helped when needed. They were in bed by nineteen hundred hours and Neji set the alarm for five. He wanted them all to take a bath and have a good meal before heading out at seven. They could travel until eighteen hundred hours at a brisk pace and be back in Konoha in the morning the day after tomorrow. Neji grinned. Kankuro would be surprised.

Neji said nothing as they approached the Hokage Tower at ten-forty-five, the day after they had left the Hidden Hot Waters Village. They had run into no trouble whatsoever, much to the boredom of Kuma. Neji had even let them finish their mission reports once they got into the village a little after nine so they wouldn't have to worry about working on them today.

Kuma bound up the stairs of the tower but Neji let her go. She did wait for them at the top and they walked into the mission room together. Neji saw Hanabi-sama, Yori, Maru, and Shigo with Anko looking at the mission board.

"Hey Neji," Anko said.

"Anko," Neji returned.

She turned to him with a smile and Neji waited a moment.

"My kids are going into the chunin exam in two months. How about yours?" Anko asked.

Damn. Neji had been hoping not to have his students reminded of that. Neji let out a little breath and shrugged.

"Perhaps," Neji said. "There are a few minor issues I want to take care of before they go."

Anko snorted. Neji raised an eyebrow at her. She shrugged.

"I don't know, I'd rather them have the experience of failing so they'll work harder the next year," Anko said.

It made sense. She grinned at him before going back to the board. Neji did not miss the scowl on Hanabi-sama's face as she looked up at Anko. Neji left the group at it and handed in the mission report and file to Genma who whistled low.

"Wow, nice job," Genma said.

"Thank you," Neji said.

Genma began writing out the checks as Neji waited. Genma left Neji for last and Neji frowned when Genma did not tear the check away to give it to Neji when he was done.

"You know, considering the circumstances, I think you should let these three go into the chunin exams in two months," Genma said.

Neji saw Kuma grin. Akino muttered his word but looked pleased. Tora started biting her lip and shuffling from foot to foot.

"When I recommend my students for the chunin exams is up to me," Neji said.

Genma waved him off but ripped the check out of the book.

"Yeah, yeah but you're being tough on them you know," Genma said.

Neji huffed, took his check and bowed to Genma. He turned on his heel and his students followed him out of the mission room and down the stairs. They stopped a little ways off and Neji ran a hand through his hair.

"Go home and rest. Cash those checks when you will and take the rest of the day off. I'll leave it up to the three of you to book a physical. Tora, remember you have to see Sakura about your training. It is Monday so technically you should be training today but I know she will go easy on you. Tomorrow we will meet at oh-nine hundred. Dismissed," Neji said.

None of them argued. Kuma did open her mouth then shook her head and took off. Neji had a feeling the girl did not like the late time or the fact everyone kept saying the team could go for chunin but Neji did not want them too. Tora walked away with a little frown and her eyebrows slightly knitted. Akino's shoulders were slumped and he had a little scowl on his face. Even they were thinking of Anko and Genma's words.

Neji huffed and ran a hand through his hair. He strode to the hospital and walked towards the waiting area for physicals. Neji signed in and assured the med-nin at the front desk he would be fine with waiting. He settled into a chair beside someone he did not know and let out a breath.

Perhaps he was being too hard on his genin. Kuma's taijustu was jonin level as was her aim. So what if she didn't have perfect chakra control? She could control it well enough to do what she needed when she needed now. She had even taken her first kill and was fine.

Akino's strength was more than enough to get him through the first challenge. He had taken his first kill and his planning was not so bad. So what if he wasn't as fast as the other two? He had good chakra control and could win against other genin.

Tora's planning and ability to sense out the direction of the enemy was astounding. Her taijustu was not horrible and she could defend against a chunin level shinobi all ready. So what if she missed recovery falls? Her chakra control was genius and she would be a wonderful medical shinobi.

Neji let out a breath and shook his head. No. He was going hard on his team for a reason. He needed them to be as perfect as possible on the off chance he wouldn't be with them on a mission. Becoming a chunin meant taking missions without the people and sensei you had trained with.

The team would break occasionally once they became chunin and Neji did not want his first genin team to be gone so soon. He wasn't sure all three would pass but he had a good feeling they would be impressive to anyone watching. None of them were ready yet.

Kuma needed to perfect her chakra and learn to put jutsu into her attack strategy. Akino needed to quicken his pace or he would end up left behind or dead. Tora needed to increase her taijustu skills. They all needed to learn a few jutsu based on their elemental release. Then they would be prepared to become chunin.

"Hyuuga Neji,"

Neji looked up to see Ino holding his chart. She had a grin on her face and Neji let out a little breath as he stood and walked towards her. The med-nin behind Ino, a woman he did not know, frowned as Ino sauntered by her with Neji following.

"Right in here, clothes off to the thong," Ino said.

Neji snorted but did as instructed once Ino shut the door. Neji said nothing as she began going over him, lingering a bit longer than needed on his chest and around his groin, asking her questions as she went. She got him to take the thong off and Neji frowned when she grinned. She began checking his testicles for any abnormalities. This was too much even for the blabbermouth.

"Could you try not gawking at me?" Neji asked.

He swallowed down his squeak as Ino did have his balls in her hand and had squeezed a bit harder than necessary. Ino smirked and released his sac. Neji let out a breath of relief.

"Hey, it's not my fault you're hot," Ino said.

Neji snorted and she went back to it. Neji scowled when she lingered at his groin. She got him to bend over the table to check his prostate and Neji grunted when she used two fingers instead of one. She found his prostate easily and Neji clenched the paper sheet in front of him as she massaged it.

"Ino," Neji said.

He kept his voice low, warning, and she smacked his lower back. Neji jolted forward and glared over his shoulder at her. She rolled her eyes and pulled her fingers out of his ass.

"Jeez, loosen up, Hyuuga," Ino said.

Neji huffed and pulled on the hospital issue pants. She frowned but went over his reflexes, checked his ears, throat, nose, and eyes with her light, and checked his breathing with her stethoscope. The rest of the physical went by well enough and soon Neji was tugging his clothes back on as Ino went over his charts.

"Same height and you gained back the weight you lost," Ino said.

Neji hummed as he leaned against the bed. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited as she scanned over his charts. She filled out a few more things then met his eyes. She grinned.

"Everything's good," Ino said.

Neji didn't move. She raised her eyebrows at him. Neji let out a breath and stood away from the bed, uncrossing his arms and hooking his thumbs into his belt loops.

"Do me a favor," Neji said.

Ino shrugged with a shoulder. Neji loosened his jaw but allowed the glare to come over his face. Ino gulped.

"Stop talking about my love-life to everyone who comes into the shop," Neji told her.

Ino blinked at him then smirked. Neji kept his distance but glowered at her. She waved him off and Neji felt his heated stare fizzle and go out. Damn it, what was with people and not responding to his glares?

"Well I'm sorry if yours is the most interesting gossip in all of Konoha," Ino said.

Neji scowled. She leaned against the desk but kept facing him, using her left arm to prop herself in what would be an appealing position if he found her attractive.

"I mean, people knew you were with Shika and Kiba without needing me to say a word. So of course people got curious when Kiba left and Shika started dating Temari. You're like the most eligible bachelor in Konoha so people are always wondering if you're happy with your current beau, when you might be available, who they have to go through to get to you, and all that other stuff. Sorry if I'm telling them you're off the market," Ino said.

Neji let out a breath and shook his head. Ino raised her eyebrows at him. This was worse than he thought. It was one thing for her to be telling people he was seeing Kankuro seriously, it was another for her to be saying he was off the market. Seeing and off the market were completely different in his clan's eyes.

"It is not your place to tell people I'm off the market. Do you know what will happen if the elders of my clan hear something? God damn it Ino I'm from a clan who arranges marriages between its members to keep the genes strong. If they find out I'm "off the market" who knows what they'll force my uncle to do," Neji said.

Ino gulped. Neji ran a hand through his hair and let out another breath so he didn't shove a fist through a wall or Ino's head. Ino sat properly in her chair and gave him a serious look.

"Sorry, I didn't think about it like that," Ino said.

"Well perhaps you should try it, you know thinking about people's clans, their feelings, and their positions before you open your big mouth," Neji said.

This was likely too harsh but Neji didn't care. It didn't matter to the clan if he kissed someone in public as they could dismiss it as a fling. What did matter was someone telling the elders Neji was "off the market." It would mean Neji had feelings for someone which would have to be rectified. The clan would force Neji to stop seeing Kankuro then throw Neji into a marriage so quickly no one would know what happened.

Neji left Ino where she sat with wide, damp eyes and a trembling lower lip. He slammed her door behind him and stalked down the hallway. No one got in his way and Neji kept walking until he was outside. He stopped at the hospital gates and ran a hand through his hair.

Neji teleported towards the training fields and was glad to find Guy-sensei, Lee, and Tenten not in their regular one. It meant they would be on a mission but Neji knew the three could take care of themselves. He began beating on one of the straw dummies to work out some of the rage which had been building up since Nami had mentioned his relationship with Kankuro.

God damn it, the Hyuuga went to the Mukai family to get silks and went to Nami's shop to get their kimonos! If Nami mentioned one thing about Neji and Kankuro being in a serious relationship then the elders would look into it like they had with Kiba and Shikamaru. Neji would be asked outright if it was serious and would have to try to lie to people who would see right through it, literally.

Stupid Ino and her big mouth. Damn her family being the only flower shop in the village. Damn her liking to man the shop just to get juicy rumors. Damn his clan. Damn it all.

"Wow, what did that guy do to you?"

Neji turned to see Kankuro smiling at him, hands tucked into the pockets of fitted pants and wearing a sleeveless shirt which showed off his muscled arms. Neji de-activated Byakugan and stared at Kankuro, panting, for several moments.

"I'm pretending it's Ino," Neji said.

Kankuro nodded and approached him. Neji could not help but watch the way Kankuro moved and felt his pants become uncomfortable. Neji looked up into Kankuro's dark eyes when the puppet master got close to him. Neji said nothing as Kankuro placed a hand at the back of Neji's head and pulled him in for a heated kiss.

Neji closed his eyes, grasped Kankuro's shirt in both hands, and groaned into the kiss. Kankuro's other hand ended up on Neji's ass but Neji didn't mind. They had to come up for air but their lips kept meeting in chaste kisses until their breath calmed enough for lips and tongues to tangle. When they pulled apart, Neji felt flushed from toe to the top of his head. He was still panting and had to work to get his heart rate to decrease.

"Should I be worried your Uncle invited me to dinner once you're back?" Kankuro asked.

Neji gulped. Shit. The Elders suspected something. He was going to kill Ino.

"Depends, just you, me and him or?" Neji returned.

Kankuro nodded.

"You, me, and him at Starlight," Kankuro said.

Neji let out a breath and put his head against Kankuro's shoulder. Kankuro held him close, one hand tangled in Neji's hair with his thumb gently stroking the back of his neck while the other hand made small circles on his lower back. This was the pre-meeting. Neji inhaled Kankuro's scent then pulled back to meet Kankuro's eyes.

"This is the pre-meeting of sorts. My Uncle wants to see if the rumors Ino has been spreading are true or not even though we both know he knows they're true and we know he knows our feelings run deep. Depending how it goes, we could have dinner with the Hyuuga elders and that would be an excellent time to worry," Neji said.

Kankuro smirked.

"Didn't your Uncle tell you he could persuade the elders into us matching because of direct ties to Suna?" Kankuro asked.

Neji blinked then nodded. Yes, Hiashi-sama had told Neji that when Neji first mentioned his feelings towards Kankuro a month ago. Neji let out a little breath. Perhaps this was not going to be as horrible as he thought. Besides the fact they were still moving quickly, it might go well. Neji leaned into Kankuro again.

"Anyway, I'm guessing the dinner will be tomorrow night," Kankuro said.

"Mm,"

"And he'll be asking how serious I am about this,"

"Hn,"

"Of course I'll be telling him I'll be fighting for the right to date, possibly stay with you permanently depending on how we both feel, as hard as I can."

"Ah,"

Neji flushed when Kankuro kissed him on the tip of the nose with a little chuckle. Kankuro placed his forehead against Neji's and grinned. Neji kept his chuckle back when Kankuro winked at him.

"Anyway, it'll be fine. I wrote to Gaara about me staying here a little while and the potential issues arising because of your clan. He wrote back telling me to let him know when I need his help in dealing with the "White-eyed idiots," his words not mine."

Neji laughed outright and Kankuro kissed his forehead. Neji grinned.

"Now that's all settled, I'm going to take you back to my room and pound you into every surface I can until we pass out from exhaustion. Good plan?"

Kankuro was rubbing the back of Neji's neck in a way that made Neji's pants even tighter. Neji nodded. Kankuro did the teleportation jutsu and Neji smiled when they appeared in Kankuro's rented room.

"I'm so glad you agree," Kankuro said.

There were no other words except moans, grunts, and groans. Neji lay on the bed after with a smile on his face and Kankuro resting with his head on Neji's stomach. He scowled when his words to Ino came back to him. He would have to do something to fix that.

Reviews welcome, next chapter coming soon.