Fixing Ino
Author's note: Sakura used seduction. It was super effective.
Rated M for sexy scenes between guys, swearing, drinking, and gore.
Don't own, borrowing.
Warning: Cross-dressing Neji ahead, also known as Hyuuga Hatomi.
Ino was avoiding him and Neji had no idea how to feel about it. Regardless, he walked towards Sakura's house with his over-night bag, his teddy bear, and a tub of Heavenly Hash ice cream. The day's training session had gone on as normal except Kuma had been a bit slow.
Kankuro noticed it and asked. Kuma explained Neji kicked her ass and shown them they weren't ready for chunin yet. Kankuro had laughed then chased Kuma around the field when she kicked him in the butt.
Neji smiled at the day then knocked on Sakura's door. He waited. The door did not open and Neji blinked. He knocked again and waited. Neji let out a little breath as he waited in the warm summer night. He scowled then knocked again.
Footsteps came from beyond the door but not Sakura's. Neji stiffened then stared when the door opened to reveal Sasuke. They held gazes for several moments and Neji noticed a few vital concepts.
Sasuke was topless and had a few little bite marks over his collarbones and a hickey forming on his neck. His hair did not fall in its normal chicken-ass style but instead was mused around his head. Sasuke's cheeks were tinted and he breathed a bit harder than normal. His loose pants did not fully make up for the issue he had going on between his legs.
Neji heard Sakura curse from in the hallway and she appeared behind Sasuke a moment later, hair messy, cheeks pink, and fixing her shirt. Neji raised an eyebrow at her as she smoothed down her shorts and gave him a smile.
"Sorry Neji, I lost track of time," Sakura said.
"I see that," Neji said.
Sasuke did not move away from the door to allow Neji entrance. Sakura huffed at this and pulled Sasuke deeper into the front entrance. Neji stepped into the home and pulled the door closed behind him. He bent and took off his shoes under Sasuke's glare.
"Um, Sasuke, maybe we can continue—" Sakura tried.
"I'm not leaving," Sasuke broke in.
Neji straightened and met Sasuke's narrowed black eyes. Sakura sighed and ran a hand through her hair, likely more to fix it then to display any kind of annoyance. She pulled Sasuke into the living room and Neji followed. He went into the kitchen and put the ice cream in the freezer as Sakura whispered to Sasuke in the sitting area.
Neji left Sakura to it and made his way down the hallway and into Sakura's bedroom. The light was on, revealing tousled bedding, teddy bears thrown all over the floor, and Sasuke's shirt on the edge of the bed. Neji shrugged before kicking the door closed.
He rolled out his sleeping bag and placed his bear from home atop it in the middle. Neji pulled out his black jogging pants and a loose black muscle shirt before dropping his bag to the side of Sakura's dresser. His toiletries came out next and these he left on her night side table. Neji tugged off his vest and mesh shirt. These were thrown atop his bag. Neji wasted no time in pulling off his pants and his thong.
Both of these were tossed onto his bag and Neji shifted to pick up his jogging pants. The door slammed open and Neji turned to see Sasuke in the threshold of the doorway with wide eyes and slightly parted lips. Neji said nothing as he tugged his jogging pants on.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked.
"Making myself comfortable," Neji answered and pulled on his shirt.
Sakura pushed Sasuke into the room. Neji kept his smirk back as she grabbed Sasuke's shirt off the bed and pushed the garment so hard into Sasuke's chest he stumbled back a few steps. Sasuke scowled when she pointed a finger at him, her other hand in a fist on her hip.
"I told you Neji was coming over tonight and you had to be out of here by eighteen hundred hours," Sakura said.
"I could stay," Sasuke said.
"No."
Neji grinned as he and Sakura had been perfectly synced. Sasuke glared. Sakura crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.
"This is mine and Neji's private time, where we vent to each other about things we can't tell anyone else knowing the other won't say a word. I'm sorry, Sasuke, but it's pre-arranged and I have to make time for my friends and my boyfriend," Sakura said.
Sasuke sighed. He shook his head then pulled his shirt back on. A hand through his hair put it back into the chicken-butt style.
"Fine, whatever," Sasuke said.
He turned to leave. Neji smirked.
"It will be happening tomorrow night as well," Neji decided to mention.
Sasuke looked over his shoulder and shot Neji a heated look. Neji returned it. Sakura rubbed her forehead but nodded when Sasuke looked to her. Sasuke snorted but strode away. Sakura followed him out and Neji decided to let them deal.
He put away his clothes and straightened up the mess of bears: piling them into the corner Sakura kept them in when she was sleeping. He even went so far as to tidy up her bed somewhat before settling down with his bear on his sleeping bag. Sakura came back into the room with movies and popcorn, putting both onto the floor before grabbing her night clothes from under her pillow and leaving the room. She was back two minutes later, tossing her clothing into a hamper and kicking her door closed.
She sat in front of him, the popcorn between them, with a sigh. Neji nibbled on the popcorn as she shook her head.
"Sorry," Sakura said.
"It's fine," Neji told her.
Sakura smiled then shifted until she could start brushing his hair. Neji chuckled but leaned into her touch, half closing his eyes as she began to give him a scalp massage.
"You're doing better?"
"Hn,"
Neji yelped when she wrapped the length of his hair around her arm and grabbed his hair right at the scalp to pull him back. His abdominals stretched and he had to lighten his breaths so he was more comfortable. Even so the position put strain on his lower back as she had tugged him right down until the back of his head almost hit her floor.
"So, what did you say to Ino that made her barricade herself in her room since she saw you last?" Sakura asked.
Her voice was sugar-sweet but the look on her face made him gulp. His scalp screamed in pain and there would be no way for him to get comfortable. Sakura's nails dug into his scalp and Neji knew she could draw blood if she wanted.
"She's been telling people I'm off the market. I told her if the Hyuuga elders heard about it they would force Hiashi-sama to do something rather horrible like you know arrange a marriage for me so quick no one would be able to stop it."
Sakura blinked, nodded once, but did not release the grip on his hair. He could feel some strands popping loose.
"I um, may have told her to try thinking about people's clans, feelings, and positions before opening her big mouth."
Sakura raised her eyebrows and he tried to shift. He couldn't even move his legs out from under his ass. Neji had no choice but to look into Sakura's face as she considered.
"I have been trying to track her down to apologize."
Neji could feel more hair being tugged off his head and a few divots being formed by her nails. His back had started to throb at the awkward position. Sure, he was flexible but he was not a damned cat.
"Sakura?"
She let him go, pushing him up so quickly he almost face planted into the popcorn. Neji sat up and shifted so he could look over his shoulder at her, rubbing his skull and trying not to pout. She crossed her arms over her chest and considered him. Sakura let out a breath and relaxed.
"Okay, she deserved it seeing as you have a damned good point."
Sakura got to her feet and walked around him to her closet. Neji said nothing but did stare when she tossed a white, unmarked bag at him. She watched him with a little smirk as he opened the bag and pulled out a white sundress with a blue band around the waist. Neji gulped when she spoke:
"Hatomi-up, Neji. We're going to get Ino out of her room."
Neji tried not to fiddle with the necklace Sakura had given him to wear. He had "Hatomi-upped" using the Sexy Jutsu, French braiding his hair, pulling on the dress, the blue sandals Sakura had bought, putting on the make-up, and the necklace she gave him. The necklace was a blue tear-shaped gem on a silver chain which went with the blue bows in his hair, the blue band around his dress, the small blue purse, and his blue shoes.
"I hate you," Neji told her in Hatomi's voice.
"Hey, you did this so you can fix it," Sakura told him.
She had changed (again) into a pink sundress. They were walking towards Ino's home and Neji tried not to glance around every few steps in case Sasuke came around some corner and spotted them.
"What happens if Sasuke sees us?"
Neji met her eyes and she smirked.
"Leave Sasuke to me,"
Sakura grabbed his wrist to get him to move faster and Neji huffed. At least the Uchiha did not live in this area of town and it was likely he had gone straight home after being kicked out by Sakura. It had taken Neji an hour to get dressed as well so it would be unlikely they would run into anyone as any friends were finished dinner and hanging out at the place, going for some evening training, or heading home to relax.
Neji recognized the path they took and sighed. The Yamanaka Flower Shop stayed open late as in a shinobi village, no one knew whether someone needed flowers at some random time at night. Some restaurants stayed open well into the early hours of the morning to cater to the needs of shinobi moving around all hours of the year.
"You do remember Hatomi is afraid of Ino, right?" Neji questioned.
Sakura rolled her eyes at him.
"Hatomi also knows how much of a meanie her cousin Neji can be and felt bad Neji told Ino off. So, she's putting their differences aside to help her feel better,"
Sakura winked at him. Neji didn't buy it. Ino would. Neji huffed as he was dragged into the flower shop. Inoichi looked up from a magazine and blinked.
"Sakura and, uh, nope, you're not Hinata," Inoichi said.
"No, this is Hatomi, one of Hinata's cousins," Sakura said.
Inoichi blinked at Neji but smiled. Neji flushed and gave a little hello, dropping his head and biting his lip. Inoichi chuckled at the shy display and Neji gulped when a single flower appeared in his line of sight. Neji took the flower, an orchid, gently and thanked Inoichi.
"You're welcome," Inoichi said. "Besides, it matches you. I'm guessing you girls are here to try and get Ino out of her room?"
Neji had no idea what the flower meant but nodded along with Sakura. Inoichi let out a little breath and his smile became brighter. Neji had not considered how much Ino's silence would hurt her family and felt like an ass.
"Well, Sakura, you know where it is. Pleasure to meet you, Hatomi," Inoichi said.
"Likewise," Neji answered.
They walked by the front counter and into the back of the shop where a door leading to a set of stairs was. Sakura led Neji up the stairs but stopped halfway up.
"Orchids mean delicate beauty," Sakura told him.
Neji almost fell down the stairs but held onto the railing before continuing up. Ino's mother was not around so Sakura dragged Neji through the spacious front room and into a hallway. Neji could hear some boy band music blasting out of a room with a closed wooden door. Ino's name marked the door in bright purple sparkly letters. Sakura did not bother to knock before barging into the room, dragging Neji with her.
Where Sakura's room had pink highlights, Ino's room looked like a can of purple paint had exploded and coated everything. Her walls were light purple covered with posters of good looking men and boy bands. The area rug was deep purple, the comforter a medium purple, the lamp shades matched the rug, and the furniture was painted white with purple handles. Neji gaped at the army of hair supplies on Ino's vanity dresser and the immense wardrobe in white which took up one wall.
"Ino-pig, time to move," Sakura said.
Ino made no response and Neji saw her cuddled under the purple covers with a teddy bear. More teddy bears were piled into the corner. Ino's blond hair fanned out over the pillows to hang over the edge of the bed. Ino's entire face and body hid under the covers. Neji said nothing as Sakura pulled him to where Ino's face should be.
"Look, I even convinced Hatomi to come see you," Sakura said.
This made Ino sit up so quickly Neji let out a little shriek. He remembered this was a good reaction considering who he pretended to be and bit his lip, fiddling when the stem of the orchid in his hands and looking at Ino with wide eyes.
Ino looked like shit. Her hair tangled around her head in clumps and she obviously had not washed in days. She had a pimple on her forehead and one on her cheek. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and her lips were chapped from biting them over and over.
"Hatomi, I thought you hated me," Ino said in a cracked voice.
Her eyes widened in awe as she took Neji in. Neji gulped and shook his head. Damn Sakura for this. No. Damn him and telling Ino off.
"N-n-no. I mean, you're um, headstrong, but um, I know how mean Neji-san can be and when Sakura told me he'd said some mean things to you, well, I felt bad that Neji-san made you feel bad so, um," Neji got out.
Ino blinked at him. Her eyes started to water and her lower lip trembled. Neji yelped when Ino hugged him close. Ino sobbed into his shoulder and Neji grumbled inwardly before wrapping Ino in a hug.
"I deserved it though! He's totally right! I didn't think of what would happen when I told people he and Kankuro were together permanently," Ino wailed.
Her voice was loud in his ear but Neji did not complain because Hatomi would not complain. Instead he hushed her, hugged her, and rubbed Ino's back, all the while cursing his own big mouth. He could be talking with Sakura about Kankuro and she about Sasuke, comparing relationships but no, he had to go insult Sakura's childhood friend Ino.
"He could be nicer though," Neji said.
Ino pulled back with a sniffle and wiped her eyes. Neji blinked. He gasped when Ino dragged him into bed with her. Sakura sat to Ino's other side and put a hand on Ino's shoulder. Ino started laughing.
"Nice? Nice? Hyuuga Neji is not nice," Ino said. "Good looking, yes, a talented shinobi, yes, but nice? Ha! You even said you find him intimidating, Hatomi."
Right. He had said that about himself. Stupid mouth.
"He didn't have to insult you though," Neji said.
Ino snorted. Sakura said nothing but Neji saw the little smirk on her face. She enjoyed this.
"I think he lives to insult people, deserving or not," Ino said.
Neji inwardly frowned but bit his lip as Hatomi and began picking at the necklace again. Ino shook her head, whapping both Sakura and Neji in the face with her blond hair.
"I mean, yeah, he had a point and I'm sure I created some kind of Hell in the clan. Oh God! Hatomi, is Neji in trouble?" Ino questioned.
Neji blinked and kept nibbling on his lip. She wouldn't know too much about the situation. Hell, Sakura didn't know anything of the situation as he hadn't told her yet.
"Well, Hiashi-sama did go out with Neji-san last night to talk with Kankuro-san. If that went well then there won't be a problem but if not then the Hyuuga Elders might get involved. I haven't heard anything though," Neji said.
Ino groaned and fell back into her pillows with both hands rubbing at her head. Neji jolted at the sudden position change and looked to Sakura who shook her head. Ino got up again so quickly she almost head-butted Neji. He squeaked and shot backwards, flushing as he did.
"Okay, so all we have to do is ask Kankuro or Neji how it went! Lemme get fixed up," Ino said.
Before Neji could make up some excuse for her not to go seeking out Kankuro or himself, she was gone. Neji glared at Sakura who gulped and started laughing nervously, rubbing the back of her head.
"Sorry?" Sakura offered.
Neji huffed and continued to glare. Sakura gulped and avoided his eyes. Ino came flying back into the room five minutes later, showered, hair streaming behind her in a damp untangled mass, and in a purple bathrobe. Neji felt his entire face go red when she shucked the bathrobe. She didn't have a stitch of clothing underneath.
Ino did not notice his distress as she tugged on a skimpy pair of black underwear (no wonder she found it funny he wore thongs) and a black bra. A purple crop top without sleeves and her purple skirt went on as she kept talking about where they would find Kankuro and Neji. Her hair was up a moment later and she made the zits disappear with make-up before slathering lip gloss onto her lips.
Neji couldn't think before she grabbed his wrist in one hand and dragged him from her room. Sakura followed along behind and soon Ino tugged on black sandals before hoisting Neji down the stairs, past her stunned father and out into the streets.
This would be horrible. Kankuro thought Neji was with Sakura tonight. Kankuro did not know about Hatomi. If Ino found Kankuro the puppet master would be confused and all hell would break loose. Even if she didn't find Kankuro she would go to the compound and Neji as Hatomi would be forced to try and find Neji in his room. When that didn't work, Ino would likely want to re-group in Hatomi's non-existent room. Shit.
Neji looked to Sakura who nodded and gave him a wink. Neji had no idea what this meant so allowed himself to be dragged through the streets.
"Why don't we divide and conquer?" Sakura suggested.
"Good idea," Ino said. "C'mon Hatomi, we'll go this way. Sakura, you go that way. If you find Kankuro, bring him to that dress shop we like in an hour. We'll meet you there."
Neji could not get a word in as Ino pulled him away. Sakura didn't bother to stop Ino and Neji prayed Sakura found Kankuro first. He also prayed they didn't run into Sasuke but that prayer stopped when Neji spotted a familiar figure up ahead. Fuck.
"Sasuke! Hey, Sasuke!"
Sasuke turned towards Ino's shout and blinked. He did not move as Ino came towards him until his dark eyes landed on Hatomi. A range of emotions Neji did not know existed in Sasuke went over his face: amusement, confusion, anger then fear. Sasuke took off in the opposite direction. Ino shouted after him and kept tugging Neji along but Neji took full advantage of Hatomi not being a shinobi. They lost Sasuke.
"The Hell was that about?" Ino asked.
She stared at Neji who took a few (fake) panting breaths. He shook his head, pretended to gather air, and let it out in a rush. Ino apologized about the rough treatment.
"Sorry, sorry! Jeez, I forgot you're not a shinobi! All I do is hurt you. I don't know why you're trying to help me," Ino said.
Neji almost said it was all Sakura's doing but stopped. He caught the breath he all ready had.
"Sasuke-san ran off because he was um, trying to court me and I said I didn't want to because of what he did in the past. He asked me who told me all of it and I said Neji-san so he went after Neji-san. They fought and Neji-san said if he won then Sasuke-san would have to leave me alone and pretend I didn't exist and Neji-san won so Sasuke-san, well, that," Neji said in a rush.
Ino's jaw dropped then she started laughing so hard she had to hold onto Neji's shoulder to stop from falling down.
"Wow, wait, does Sakura know about Sasuke and you?" Ino questioned.
"Sasuke told her so she punched Neji-san and he explained. Neji-san is the reason they're together now."
Neji waited for Ino to consider his words. She let out a breath which disturbed the bangs hanging in her face then nodded. Her arms crossed over her chest and she put most of her weight on her right leg.
"Right, I remember now. Neji's really getting around, huh?"
Ino smirked. Neji bit his lip when he wanted to glare at Ino. She giggled.
"In a good way though. I mean, Sakura's got her dream-man and he made me realize I should think before I say something. I still feel bad about getting the Hyuuga clan involved with him and Kankuro though. So, let's find them!"
Neji yelped as she tugged him away but inwardly groaned. He almost face-planted when they rounded a corner and spotted Kiba up ahead with Naruto, Sai, and Lee. Neji forced his body to trip and did fall flat on his face, pulling Ino down with him. The blond shouted and Neji wanted to laugh but his chin scraped against the ground. He let his shout out.
"Woah! Ino, and, um, Hatomi, right? Are you two okay?"
Kiba had lifted Neji's head up and Neji let the tears roll down his cheeks as Kiba helped Neji to a sitting position. Ino was all ready on her knees and looking over Neji's chin.
"Totally my fault, again, I keep forgetting Hatomi's not a shinobi," Ino said.
Neji felt the Mystical Palm being applied to his chin and sniffled. He noticed Naruto and Lee gaping at him while Sai had a fake smile on his face and his head tilted to a side.
"Yeah, that would do it. What's the rush anyway?" Kiba asked.
Ino sighed and finished healing Neji's chin. Neji whimpered as Ino pulled him to his feet and began brushing him off. He let the blush come to his cheeks. Sai kept staring at him.
"I'm looking for Kankuro or Neji or both. Have you guys seen them?" Ino questioned.
Kiba shook his head. Naruto and Lee said they hadn't seen either all day and Neji wanted to laugh. Sai got into Neji's personal space so in Hatomi-fashion, Neji yelped and stepped back. Ino caught him before he fell and held him close.
"Hyuuga," Sai said.
"Yeah, there are a lot of them. This is Hatomi, Neji and Hinata's cousin," Ino said.
Sai gave another fake smile and bowed. Neji blinked at the artist.
"Hatomi-chan, may I sketch you?" Sai enquired.
Neji shook his head frantically, whapping Sai in the face with his hair. Sai backed up and pouted.
"Sai, you're weird. Anyway, thanks, we're off to find Kankuro or Neji," Ino said.
Kiba stopped her before she could pull Neji down the street. Neji would kiss Kiba if he could. Ino raised her eyebrows at Kiba who chuckled at her.
"Slow down and think a minute Ino. Where would they be?" Kiba questioned.
Ino opened her mouth then grinned. She started laughing. Neji said nothing as Ino slapped Kiba happily on the shoulder.
"His hotel room, duh! Thanks Kiba. Let's go Hatomi," Ino said.
Well shit. Neji deliberately tripped again but this time Ino caught him. Kiba snorted as Ino apologized, made sure Neji was okay then began leading Neji away a bit slower, waving at the stunned guys as they left.
"Sorry I keep rushing you around," Ino said.
"It's okay," Neji told her.
Ino shook her head and Neji had to raise a hand to stop from being walloped by blond hair. This was why he never shook his head so hard.
"No, I should know better. I mean, Sakura told me the reason you couldn't be a shinobi was because you have cystic fibrosis. I should know you can't run around all the time because of the mucus lining your airways."
Neji said nothing. Damn Sakura deserved a medal. The disease did explain perfectly why Hatomi spent most of her time in the compound and hadn't been able to be a shinobi. Neji would hug Sakura later.
"I mean you have good days and really bad days, right?"
Neji nodded to Ino's question and she let out a breath.
"And if you sweat too much you can become dehydrated a lot quicker because you produce more salt in your sweat. You get heat stroke quicker, way faster heart rate, decreased blood pressure, weakness and hell, it could even kill you. Sometimes the hair color affects my brain."
Neji bit his lip then giggled when Ino winked at him. She laughed and they walked towards Kankuro's hotel at an easy pace. Neji wanted to run in the opposite direction when they entered the lobby but it would look stupid. Ino asked the front desk person where Kankuro's room was and explained she knew him personally.
They were headed up the stairs within moments and Neji inwardly balked when Ino knocked on Kankuro's door. Outwardly he bit his lip and twirled the orchid in his hand. Neji was surprised the poor flower had lasted thus far. Ino knocked again. Dear God, Kankuro wasn't in the hotel. Yes!
"Hey Hatomi, do you know how to activate Byakugan?" Ino asked.
Hell, he would give her a bit of mercy. Neji nodded. He closed his eyes and took a breath before performing the hand seals. Damn he hadn't done hand seals for the Byakugan in years. Even so he remembered them: Horse, Tiger with lifted index fingers, Boar with nearly straightened fingers, Hare, Rat, Dog, Horse, Dog, Hare, Rat, Boar with nearly straightened fingers again, and Snake with right index finger straight up, all much slower than how he would normally perform them.
"Byakugan," Neji said.
Ino grinned when the Byakugan activated. Neji let out a breath as if it had strained him a bit and nibbled on his lip. He shifted his vision field to stare through the walls and door into Kankuro's rented room. Within four seconds he wanted to jump for joy as Kankuro could not be seen. He had to pretend to be a barely skilled Byakugan user so took his time scanning the area.
"Well?" Ino asked.
Neji de-activated the Byakugan and shook his head. Ino pouted. She checked her watch then huffed.
"C'mon, we gotta go meet Sakura. Maybe she found him," Ino said.
Neji nodded and followed Ino out of the hotel. He didn't understand why Ino felt the need to hold his wrist but didn't complain. The sun had started to set while they ran around the village and by now the sky took on its night tones. It took Ino half an hour to find the dress shop which made them late for meeting Sakura.
Neji's heart dropped when he spotted Kankuro standing with Sakura, talking amicably with the med-nin. He inwardly gulped and outwardly showed no signs of distress. Wait. Sakura must have explained a little bit of what was going on.
"Oh good, she found Kankuro," Ino said.
Ino sped up a bit and Neji kept pace. He flushed when Kankuro turned and smiled at them. He saw Sakura smirk but Ino focused on Kankuro.
"Sorry for chasing you down, but I wanted to ask if the meeting with Hiashi went okay. See, I'm the whole reason the elders found out about you and Neji and I'm sorry for opening my big mouth about it. I didn't think of what would happen to you guys if the elders found out. Is everything okay? I mean, I wanna help if not," Ino said in a rush.
Kankuro blinked at her and smirked. His eyes landed on Neji and Neji felt his heart rate increase, his cheeks flush, and his mouth go dry.
"Hiashi's fine with me and Neji dating," Kankuro said.
Ino sagged in relief.
"In fact, he's going to be meeting with Tsunade-sama and my brother to discuss options in dealing with the Hyuuga elders so Neji and I can stay together."
Ino grinned then hugged Kankuro. Neji wanted to slam Ino into the ground but as Hatomi he didn't have the motivation, never mind the skill.
"Oh thank god! Wait, where is Neji?" Ino asked.
Neji bit his lip. Sakura grinned.
"Helping Hiashi with making arrangements for his trip to Suna," Sakura answered.
Neji almost fell over in relief. The light in Sakura's eyes told Neji she had explained what was going on to Kankuro. The smirk on Kankuro's face and the way his eyes traveled over Neji's body let Neji know Kankuro knew exactly who Hatomi was. Neji flushed.
"Oh, by the way, this is Hatomi, Neji and Hinata's cousin," Ino said.
"Hatomi, nice to meet you," Kankuro said and bowed slightly.
Neji nodded a few times, twirling the orchid and biting his lips as if embarrassed. God he wanted this night to be over. Wait. It could be over. Neji inhaled through his nose and began coughing. Ino jolted and Sakura gaped. Sakura got over it first and was at Neji's side a moment later as Neji kept coughing.
"Oh no! Did I make her CF act up?" Ino questioned.
Neji felt bad. Ino's eyes had teared up and her lower lip trembled. She had her arms crossed tightly over her stomach and looked two seconds away from a mental break-down. Neji slowed his fake coughing spurt and saw Kankuro raise an eyebrow.
"There you go, you're okay," Sakura said. "She's fine, Ino, really. I'm going to walk her back to the compound though, just in case. Besides, Neji should be done with his uncle soon and he owes me a sleep over."
Neji almost stomped on Sakura's foot but refrained. Sakura understood her slip of the tongue but it was too late. Ino grinned and wrapped an arm through Neji's free arm. He wanted to scream.
"Awesome! I can come with you guys and apologize to Neji when we see him," Ino said.
Neji considered himself a great shinobi but not even he could create a fake room for Hatomi, settle in said room then appear randomly as Neji within seconds. He wouldn't be able to get to his uncle in time to tell Hiashi-sama he had fake spent hours with the man helping with the Suna trip either.
"Actually Ino, why don't you walk me back to the hotel?" Kankuro asked.
Neji wanted to kiss Kankuro now. It would have to wait. Ino gave Kankuro a perplexed look but Kankuro smiled.
"I mean I'm feeling a little peckish and you do kind of owe me for being a big-mouth," Kankuro said.
Neji laughed inwardly. Kankuro was a genius. Ino opened her mouth then closed it. She huffed then nodded.
"Fine, I'll track down Neji tomorrow. Oh! Sakura if you keep him around for a bit I can do it right in the morning! Say, eight-ish?" Ino enquired.
Neji did not have to meet his students until ten. Sakura would be taking Tora around the same time or training on the same field with them.
"Make it 8:30. We'll probably be up late and sometimes Neji can be a total pain in the ass to wake up," Sakura said.
Kankuro laughed and Neji flushed.
"You got that right," Kankuro said. "But he's so damned cute when you wake him up."
Neji held his glare back but coughed. All heads turned to him and he let out a fake-pained breath. Sakura huffed at him but smiled at Ino and Kankuro.
"All right, I should get Hatomi home. See you at 8:30 tomorrow Ino," Sakura said.
They exchanged good-nights and Neji strode with Sakura towards the Hyuuga compound. They remained silent for a block then Sakura burst out laughing.
"Oh shut up," Neji said.
"What? It was funny!"
Sakura kept giggling. Neji gave her a heated stare and Sakura gulped.
"You told him everything, didn't you?"
Neji kept staring. Sakura waved her hand in front of his face as if it would stop his glare. It didn't work. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"How was I supposed to explain? I found him in his hotel, figured Ino would eventually figure out to go there then dragged him to the meeting spot and told him everything, right from the beginning when you first became Hatomi. I think you're going to have to play Hatomi in the bedroom, he looked really hot for you like this."
Sakura chuckled as Neji groaned. He shook his head at her and let out a breath.
"Fine, whatever. Also, thank you for figuring out what debilitating disease I would have to prevent me from leaving the compound and being a shinobi. You should know I can activate Byakugan with hand seals."
Neji smirked when she rolled her eyes but nodded.
"I figured you wouldn't be able to resist having Byakugan."
Sakura laughed when Neji snorted at her. He scowled when they came to the compound then stopped her. She smirked at him.
"I can't go in there like this," Neji said.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Teleport us into your room," Sakura told him.
Neji huffed and did as he was told. Once inside Sakura told him to strip and release the Sexy-jutsu. He did and stood with red cheeks when he was finished and his hands covering his groin. Sakura snickered at him, unbraided his hair, took off the make-up and made sure everything was in his closet. She handed him a pair of jogging pants and he wanted to whack his head off a wall when he remembered he was in his room.
Neji pulled on a shirt and a different pair of shoes. He and Sakura left the regular way and Neji wanted to laugh when he spotted the guards in the front were different from earlier this evening. They were almost back to Sakura's house when they ran in Sasuke. He stopped in front of them, a painfully confused expression on his face.
"Sakura, Neji? What are you two doing out here?" Sasuke asked.
"Taking a walk," Sakura said.
Sasuke blinked. Neji gaped when Sakura kissed Sasuke passionately on the lips. When she let him go, he stumbled into a wall, and simply stared. Sakura winked at her boyfriend before grabbing Neji's wrist and pulling him the rest of her way to her house. They made it to the safety of her bedroom in five minutes and she burst out laughing.
"So," Neji started. "What are you going to tell him when he asks you why Ino was walking around with Hatomi? Or when he asks Ino directly what was going on? You know Ino's going to say she was looking for me and he's going to mention we were together."
Sakura waved her hand at him and he was forced to wait as she left the room to get changed. He huffed before sitting on his sleeping bag and eating the popcorn. It had gone a bit hard but it still tasted good.
"He won't ask. Hatomi doesn't exist to him, remember?" Sakura reminded him upon re-entering her room.
Neji opened his mouth then closed it. He started chuckling and she laughed along with him before getting in behind him and brushing his hair. Neji took the treatment with a grin. The night had turned out better than expected and it wasn't even over yet.
There was still ice cream to be had and gossip to be exchanged. Neji leaned into Sakura's touch as she began to tie up his hair. It would be a great night.
Someone giggled near him. Neji opened one eye a crack and came face to face with blond hair and blue eyes. Neji growled and Ino gasped before falling back on her ass. Neji sat up to see Sakura grinning down at him, fully dressed. He blinked at her then glanced at the clock: 8:35AM. She had let him sleep in so Ino could see him snuggled up with his bear in his sleeping bag.
"Morning," Ino said.
Neji glared at her but the effect left when she shoved a bouquet of flowers in his face. He almost ate them.
"Geranium for comfort, hyacinth for sincerity, calla lily cuz they're your favorite, asphodel means I'm sorry. Which I am. I'm sorry I'm such a blabber mouth and didn't think about what my words would do to you and Kankuro," Ino said.
Neji took the flowers and stared at her. Her lips were pursed and her eyes were wide as she tried not to laugh. Neji knew how he looked right now: eyes narrowed from being woken up and pissed, hair a mess around his head, red marks on his face from the pillow, and shirt skewed around his shoulders. Plus he felt he had drooled a bit during the night.
Neji huffed then tugged a hyacinth and asphodel from the bouquet. He handed the flowers to Ino who stared at him in awe.
"For what I said the other day," Neji told her.
He sounded groggy. Neji felt the eye gunk in his eyes but refrained from wiping it away. Ino giggled at him then hugged him.
"Aw, thanks, I deserved it though. Jeez, between you and Hatomi I'm becoming a changed woman," Ino said.
Neji kept his mouth shut and Ino took this for his general grogginess. She poked his nose and he snarled at her. This made her laugh but she got out of his personal space and to her feet.
"Anyway, I wanted to take you to breakfast too, so get your butt moving, Hyuuga. Sakura told me you're meeting your genin at ten," Ino said.
Neji looked up at her and sighed. He chucked his pillow at her before falling back into bed with his flowers and bear. His move made both Ino and Sakura giggle but Neji didn't care. He could easily sleep until nine, be out the door twenty minutes later and pick up breakfast on the way. Damn it, he hadn't fallen asleep until three.
"C'mon sleepy head," Ino said.
Neji glared at her and she fell backwards on her butt again. He yelped when Sakura smacked him in the face with a pillow. Ino laughed as Neji groused. Sakura tugged his sleeping bag away but he curled into the floor hugging the bear. She kicked him in the foot a few times so he glowered at her. Sakura raised an eyebrow then shrugged.
"Fine, we'll do this the hard way," Sakura said.
Neji snorted and went back to cuddling with his bear. Sakura left the room with Ino trailing behind. He ignored them, eyes closed, when they came back in moments later. Neji screamed when Sakura pulled his pants away from his back and dumped ice down his pants.
Neji got to his feet and shook out his pants as Sakura and Ino laughed. When the offending ice was gone he glared at Sakura and she gulped. Ino hid behind her friend but still had a smile on her face.
"Not funny," Neji said.
"I thought it was," Ino mentioned.
He huffed. She stuck her tongue out at him. Sakura giggled.
"Come on grumpy-puss, Ino's offering you a free meal," Sakura said.
Neji raised an eyebrow then scowled. He grabbed his toiletry bag off of Sakura's night table and strode out of the room. Neji was showered and finished with his morning routine in ten minutes. Sakura and Ino had cleaned up Sakura's room while he was out, even going so far as to pack his bag and the bear. Sakura had left out the clothes he selected for the today: gloves, hitai-ate, arm wraps, and bandages included.
Neji decided to Hell with embarrassment and whipped his shirt off one handed. Both flushed, jaws dropping as he tugged off his jogging pants and began to dress: thong, pants, mesh shirt, vest, arm wraps, gloves, bandana, hitai-ate, and bandages.
"What?" Neji asked. "You've both seen me naked and touched me while I was naked."
He ducked under Sakura's fist and she almost fell over. He caught her and she frowned at him. She got out of his grip easily and put her fists on her hips.
"In a medical setting," Sakura said.
"So? That was hot," Ino said.
Neji shoved his night clothes into his bag so he did not have to comment. He left the room a moment later to Ino's laughter ringing out behind him. It did not take them long to leave the house and find a place to eat. Neji hid a yawn behind his hand and leaned on the table in front of him. He ordered a green tea when the waitress came to them and Ino snorted at him.
"You're like obsessed with that stuff," Ino said.
Neji smirked.
"It improves my overall health, improves my brain function, increases my metabolism to help maintain my weight, boosts my physical performance, lowers my chances of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, lowers my chance of infection, improves my dental health, helps keep my skin healthy, and generally keeps me alive for longer. Why wouldn't I be obsessed with it?" Neji asked.
Ino opened her mouth then closed it. She looked to the tea he sipped then skimmed over his entire body. Ino huffed but Neji knew she would order green tea when the waitress came back. He was proven right and ordered his meal of white rice, fried egg, miso soup, natto, and broiled fish. Sakura and Ino ordered about the same and Neji sipped his tea when the waitress left.
Neji said nothing when Ino got her green tea a few minutes later. Ino blew on it then sipped it carefully. The look on her face made Neji laugh and she coughed before drinking her white milk.
"God that's so bitter! No wonder you're a sour-puss," Ino said.
Neji raised an eyebrow at her. Sakura chuckled but grinned when he glared. Ino stared at the green tea and Neji had a feeling she would keep drinking it because of the benefits.
"If you wait until it cools it has a sweeter fresh taste," Neji said.
Ino blinked at him and tilted her head in curiosity.
"So why don't you wait till it cools?" Ino questioned.
Neji grinned.
"I prefer my sweets in the form of chocolate, not tea. Besides, the bitter flavor keeps me awake," Neji answered.
Ino groaned and rolled her eyes at him. Sakura laughed. Their food came quickly and Neji dug into his free meal as Ino let her tea cool. Neji drank his hot as typical then moved onto water once he was finished. Ino didn't touch her green tea until it was almost ice cold then grinned when she drank it.
"That's so much better," Ino said.
Neji snorted at her and finished the last of his miso soup. He checked the clock and saw it to be half past nine. He and Sakura had to get moving. Sakura noticed the time as well and frowned.
"We've gotta go, Ino," Sakura said.
Ino nodded.
"No problem, and sorry again Neji," Ino said.
Neji inclined his head to her and stood. She grinned and Neji saw Sakura drop some ryo onto the table to cover her meal.
"Say hi and be nice to Hatomi for me, okay?" Ino asked.
Neji kept back his laugh and nodded. He and Sakura left a moment later and headed to training field twenty-seven. Neji could tell Sakura wanted to say something about the Hatomi comment but they were out in the open. Neither wanted to risk anyone overhearing. It would ruin everything Hatomi, Neji, had done.
"Sorry about letting her see you all half-asleep," Sakura said.
Neji shrugged.
"It's fine. Thank you for, well, everything. Let's call Ino seeing me in that state part of my penance to you for last night."
Neji let out a breath of relief when she chuckled and nodded. The rest of the walk went by in silence and Neji grinned when he spotted Kuma kicking her post, Tora practicing her aim, and Akino doing his speed tests. Kankuro leaned against the middle post with his puppets, looking content.
Kankuro smirked at him and Neji kept his flush back. Kuma saw him next and bounded towards him to hug him. Tora hugged Neji next then walked off to a different part of the field with Sakura. Akino stared at him from the distance with a smile and waved.
"Kuma, go spar with Akino for an hour," Neji said.
Kuma nodded without complaint and grabbed Akino by the arm when she passed him. He didn't move and she almost fell on her ass but Akino caught her. Neji chuckled when the two went towards the other end of the field. He flushed when Kankuro wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his cheek.
Kankuro kept his head lowered and Neji shivered when Kankuro's hot breath ghosted over his ear. The words caught up to him and Neji had to work to keep his blush from spreading over his entire face:
"Hatomi huh? Maybe she can come visit me tomorrow, hm? With your permission of course. Damn do you make a hot girl."
And Ino's on her way to being a better person thanks to Neji cross-dressing. Ha. Yes, I did do my research on cystic fibrosis. "Hatomi" has had it all her life which means she doesn't have long to go. Neji and Sakura discuss this in the next chapter.
Reviews welcome, next chapter coming soon.