Doubts and Drunken Adventures

Author's note: Neji gets drunk. Neji does some rather interesting things when drunk. So does Guy. Random Ibiki and Anko appear.

Rated M FOR SEXY SCENES BETWEEN MALES, swearing, drinking, and gore. Eventually I'll high-light all of these...

Don't own, borrowing. The song "I Touch Myself" is by Divinyls and copyright to them as of 1990. I don't own it either but I did use a few of the lyrics (not the whole song).

Neji stepped into the bar late that night and glanced over the people sitting there. Anko sat with Ibiki at one table, laughing about something or another. Other jonin he knew by sight but not by name crowded around another table. Kakashi sat reading his orange covered book beside Guy at the bar itself. Neji let out a breath and strode towards his former sensei.

Sako and her mother were keeping Kuma company in her room. Neji had told Kankuro he wanted to spend some time alone and the Suna shinobi had kissed him lightly on the cheek before leaving. Neji had not eaten dinner yet but didn't care. The bar served mainly booze but they did have a decent miso soup and chicken fried rice.

"Neji! My genius student!"

Neji smirked as he got within a few feet of Guy. He allowed Guy to tug him in for a hug and saw Kakashi raise an eyebrow. Everyone knew Neji never willingly submitted to Guy's hugs. Neji needed a hug though.

"Come, sit, enjoy your youth," Guy said.

Neji noticed Guy hop to the stool next to him so Neji could sit between Guy and Kakashi. Neji settled on Guy's former stool as Guy took his cup of sake. The bar tender came by and Neji ordered miso soup and sake. He saw Guy become serious and wanted to laugh.

"What ails you, Neji?" Guy asked.

It would never cease to amaze Neji how intuitive Guy could be or how serious he could become. Neji let out a breath and leaned on the bar, elbows on the edge and hands hanging down towards his tense legs.

"Kuma's in the hospital with major chakra depletion," Neji said.

Guy gaped. Kakashi lowered his book.

"This was after she cracked her skull and broke her C4 and C5 vertebra. Luckily Sakura was with me when I saw Kuma's sister go running through the streets. I asked Kuma's sister what happened and she said she found Kuma lying in the middle of the training field, not moving, and unresponsive. Sakura healed her but she's not sure how much mobility Kuma will have even after the healing. Kuma won't wake up until Tuesday," Neji explained.

Neji said nothing when Guy wrapped him in a side-ways hug. Kakashi put down his book, thumb keeping the pages marked and turned to face Neji. Neji let out another breath and leaned into Guy's hug. Guy patted his back before drawing back. The bar tender came back with Neji's soup and sake.

Neji used the delicate white spoon to take a few sips of his soup. He downed his sake in a few gulps. Kakashi poured more into the cup and Neji nodded at him in thanks.

"She was training on her own?" Guy asked.

Neji inclined his head. He sipped at his soup and kept his eyes on the bowl. Guy hummed and placed a hand on Neji's back in the middle. Neji downed his second shot of sake and Kakashi filled it again.

Neji met Guy's eyes and Guy did not flinch. Guy had his serious face on and Neji let out a breath as Guy kept their gazes locked. Guy, Lee, and Tenten were the few people who could meet Neji's gaze full on without lowering their eyes. Hell, Guy often had stare-downs with Neji to get him to participate in "youthful" engagements.

"How, I mean, what," Neji tried but stopped.

"How do we deal with it? What do we do?" Kakashi questioned.

Neji nodded. He sipped some more soup as the two jonin beside him considered. Guy chuckled and rubbed Neji's back. Neji had a feeling Guy secretly enjoyed this simply because Neji had never let Guy be so close to him. Neji didn't mind.

"You try to remember you were young and stupid once," Guy said. "You try to remember all those feelings of having something to prove to yourself, to your teammates, to your sensei. You talk to others, try to forget about it for a little while, knowing, hoping, and praying your precious student will make it out okay.

"You beat yourself up for not being there, not being fast enough, not being skilled enough to save them. Then when they do wake up you smack them in the face and tell them to be more careful, hoping they listen and knowing they will not because you did not at their age. You sit at this bar and reminisce with your friends. They sit there quietly knowing how you feel without needing to ask and you take comfort in that.

"This is a test in patience, Neji. A test in seeing if you can handle being a sensei to three shinobi in training, knowing they are going to screw up, knowing they will get hurt, knowing they might even die, and knowing you are the only thing stopping all of that from happening. Be thankful she was injured here in Konoha and not on a mission."

Neji let out a little breath and allowed Guy to hug him again. He closed his eyes, letting Guy hold him close for several long moments. Guy let him go when Neji tried to pull away and Neji finished his miso soup. He took the third sake shot and Kakashi re-filled him. Neji went back to leaning on the counter, keeping one hand on his sake cup while the other leaned against the counter from elbow to wrist with his hand hanging down.

"What do I do if I'm not ready to handle being a sensei?" Neji asked.

Guy kept his hand on Neji's back. Neji didn't complain.

"Then you pass them onto someone else," Guy said.

Neji blinked. Pass them onto someone else? No. He couldn't do that. There was no one else who would understand his team. Neji downed the fourth shot and Kakashi filled him up again.

"What if I can't pass them onto someone else?" Neji questioned.

Guy chuckled at him. Neji met his eyes and saw Guy grinning.

"Then you grin and bear this," Guy said.

Neji hummed and downed his fifth shot. He put down his cup delicately and Kakashi filled him up again. Neji had started to feel tipsy and knew in another shot or two he would start to get drunk especially without having a good meal. Miso soup wouldn't do much to keep the alcohol from absorbing in his body.

"No one would understand them like I do," Neji said. "They wouldn't get Kuma needs to be constantly moving or she gets bored. They wouldn't understand Akino's a lot smarter than he looks and he's not as much of a slacker as he makes out to be. They wouldn't know Tora's a lot more delicate than she lets on and needs constant reassurance or she thinks she's useless because she's not as flashy as the other two."

Neji swirled his sake in the cup but didn't drink it. Guy patted his back, still grinning and Kakashi nodded.

"No one would have understood how motivated Lee was or seen his potential to become a great shinobi. No one would have noticed how good Tenten was with weapons or encouraged her to chase her dreams. No one would have seen how much you suffered and how often you hid behind the cold facade because you were afraid of being hurt," Guy said.

Neji snorted but couldn't help smirking. He drank his sixth shot and nodded to Kakashi who filled his cup again. Kakashi ordered another bottle and Neji licked his lips.

"It happens to all of us, Neji," Kakashi said. "Your students become your kids and it's hard to see them hurt. We can hope and pray to never see it again but we all know the job. Even now I worry about Naruto and Sakura. Guy still worries about the three of you and you'll always think about Kuma, Tora, and Akino."

"It is why many jonin take a single team," Guy added.

Neji hummed and considered. Guy hadn't taken on a second team even though Lee, Tenten, and Neji had not been his students for at least three years now. Kakashi hadn't either. Neji understood why now.

Every team became an extension of the teacher, more precious people, and more people to look after. Neji knew even after a decade he would never take another genin team unless told to or if a student in the academy inspired him the way Lee had inspired Guy.

"I understand, thank you both," Neji said.

Guy patted him on the back and downed a shot. Kakashi downed one as well (through the mask) and filled up his and Guy's cups. Neji chuckled at them both but did not move from his spot. He downed his seventh shot and Kakashi filled him up again.

"Guy-sensei," Neji said.

He ignored the tears in Guy's eyes and the trembling of Guy's lips, a sign Guy was ready for a hug he normally reserved for Lee. Neji would not stoop to that level, at least not until he had a few more shots in him.

"I have to meet with Tora and Akino for five tomorrow morning, field twenty-seven," Neji said.

"I will make certain you get there, do not worry!" Guy said with a Nice Guy pose.
Neji grinned and downed the eighth shot. He would regret this in the morning but to Hell with it. One of his precious students was in the hospital and damn it he needed to stop thinking about it.

"Neji-sensei?"

Neji groaned and peeled his eyelids away from his eyes. It turned out to be a horrible idea. The sun wasn't even up yet and it hurt. Neji rubbed his eyes and decided it would be best to stay lying down. At least the grass was soft. Huh. Grass.

"Are you okay?"

Tora. Tora was asking him if he was okay. He let his arm fall over his eyes and thought. Too bad it hurt too much to think.

Tora asked him again if he was okay. This did not add up in Neji's head. He remembered talking to Guy and Kakashi about Kuma being in the hospital. Neji remembered telling Guy to make sure Neji was in field twenty-seven for five in the morning because he had to meet Tora and Akino. It was a bit of a blur after this.

"Should I get Sakura-sensei?"

Mmm, no, Sakura would probably kill him. For some reason he remembered singing. Did the bar have a stage? Neji didn't think so. Why had he been singing?

"What's wrong with Neji-sensei?"

Akino had come up to stand near Tora. It had to be deadly close to five in the morning then. Why in the Hell did he remember Anko laughing at him? And why did he remember being carried in Ibiki's arms? The HELL had he done?

"Why does he have bows in his hair?"

Neji considered Akino's question. Bows. Ah, Anko had wanted to braid his hair. Why had he let her do it?

"I don't know. He smells like sake,"

Neji wanted to commend Tora on her excellent observational skills but didn't want to open his eyes or mouth yet. Ibiki had been laughing at him. Kakashi had carried Guy because for some reason Guy had gotten drunk. At least Lee hadn't been present.

"And barf,"

Ah yes, the dumpster. It had been a good idea at the time to throw up in the dumpster. Ibiki had held back his hair. Neji was fairly certain he had patted Ibiki's head and thanked him with a kiss on the cheek. Oh God.

"I think he got drunk,"

Again Neji wanted to congratulate Tora on deducing what had happened.

"No duh,"

Neji snorted when Akino did it for him. Neji lowered his arm and cracked open one eye. Tora and Akino were standing over him looking at him in wonder. Tora's glasses had slipped down her nose and the end of her braid touched his chest. She was nibbling on her lip and her eyes were huge behind her glasses. She had bent at the waist and supported her upper body with her hands on her knees.

Akino had bent at the waist as well, hands on his knees, and had a frown on his face complete with furrowed eyebrows. At least their heads blocked out most of the rising sun. Neji sighed.

"Why'd you get drunk?" Akino asked.

Ah yes, he would have to tell them about Kuma. First he had to sit up. Neji took a deep breath and started the sitting up process. This turned out to be a horrible plan but he could not abort as Akino helped him get somewhat upright.

Neji groaned and leaned forward. Akino kept him from putting his head against his knees (which he could do) and Neji let out a breath. His stomach rumbled and Neji winced at the foul taste in his mouth. Sake did not come up well.

"Is Kuma okay?" Tora questioned.

Oh good, his students were especially attentive. It likely helped they weren't hung over. Lucky bastards. He nodded.

"Lemme guess, she came out here to train on her own and got hurt?"

Damn. They were good. Neji nodded again. He heard Akino mutter his word and for some reason this became hilarious. Neji started chuckling but grunted when Akino let him go. Neji landed on his back in the grass and looked up at the sky. The longer he kept his eyes open the less it hurt. This was good to know.

"She's in the hospital?"

Neji wanted to ask Tora where else Kuma would be if she had gotten hurt but decided not to. Akino answered for him, another "duh" and Neji snickered.

"For how long?" Akino asked.

Oh. This required deep thought. Neji rolled the information around in his head, ignoring the memory of dancing with Guy (oh he would not live last night down) and coming up with the information.

"Tuesday. No training until Saturday if she can move," Neji said.

"If she can move?" Tora questioned.

Right they hadn't been here. Neji pushed away the image of Anko's breasts but got distracted. She had big nipples. Neji grunted and focused on his students.

"She broke her C4 and C5 vertebra but Sakura healed her. Sakura doesn't know if she'll have full mobility until she wakes up on Tuesday," Neji said.

Tora and Akino stared at him. Akino ran a hand through his hair as Tora bit her lip and fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

"And now we know why Neji-sensei got totally drunk," Akino said.

Neji gave him a thumb up. Akino snorted at him. Neji whined when Akino bent and lifted him. Neji grunted when Akino easily tossed him onto a shoulder then hung there with his face almost in Akino's ass.

"He won't want to go back to the Hyuuga Compound," Tora said.

"Annoying. Where to then? My parents would freak if I brought home my drunken sensei at five in the morning," Akino told her.

"Mine too. I know! We can bring him to Kankuro-sensei. He must be staying at the Golden Blossom Hotel. That's where all visiting dignitaries stay. Come on," Tora said.

Neji chuckled. Oh his students were awesome. He said nothing as Akino carried him through the streets and watched as the grass melded into the rocks of the street. Neji saw his hair out of the corner of his eye and spotted it was in fact braided, a bit messy, and covered in bright bows in a variety of colors. He remembered Anko buying the bows. He was pretty sure it came after the singing.

"OH, um, hello Ibiki-sama,"

Well Hell. Neji heard Ibiki laugh but couldn't lift his head.

"Taking care of your sensei I see. He had a rough night, a bit too much to drink," Ibiki said.

"Yeah, we gathered," Akino said.

Neji chuckled. Damn the kid had balls. It probably something to do with being able to carry his own weight over one shoulder like it was nothing and being as tall as an average adult male at twelve.

"Here's a note. I wrote down what he did and where. He'll probably want to know once he regains consciousness," Ibiki said.

How kind of the Torture and Interrogation Force Captain. Neji had a feeling he would loathe what was on the note. He couldn't argue considering his current position.

"Um, thank you Ibiki-sama," Tora said.

Ever polite. Ibiki snorted at her. She squeaked. Neji felt Akino tense.

"Not a problem, kid. Tell your sensei I appreciate the kiss on the cheek for holding back his hair. And he owes me six thousand ryo for winning the contest. Oh and we should do that again sometime. It's in the note," Ibiki said.

Neji groaned and heard Ibiki laugh at him before walking off. Akino muttered his word and they began moving again. Neji heard Tora fiddling with the note but she put it away. The stone gave way to the lobby of the hotel and Neji let out a breath.

"Three-oh-five," Neji said.

"Oh good, there wasn't anyone at the front desk," Akino said.

Neji had known there wouldn't be. He said nothing as Akino carried him up the stairs with Tora beside them. Jeez, Akino wasn't even out of breath and the walk was a long one from the training fields to the hotel, plus three flights of stairs. Tora was knocking. Kankuro might be pissed.

"Who the fuck, oh, Tora, uh, wha,"

Akino pushed past Kankuro and Neji felt the sensation of flying before landing on the couch. Neji coughed but kept the bile down as Tora explained what was going on. Kankuro came into Neji's line of sight, a frown on his face and his eyes narrowed.

"Sorry," Neji said.

Kankuro smirked and kissed him on the forehead. Akino muttered his word as Tora handed Kankuro the note. Ah, no, bad Tora.

"What Neji did last night. Oh, this should make some good reading. Sit down kids, lemme get some juice from the mini-fridge," Kankuro said.

Neji groaned and covered his face with both hands. He heard Akino and Tora sit. Kankuro was getting glasses and juice. Neji let his hands fall from his face and decided it best to look up at the ceiling. The ceiling wouldn't judge him.

"Here you go," Kankuro said.

"Thank you Kankuro-sensei," Tora said.

"Thanks," Akino muttered.

Neji felt Kankuro moving Neji's legs. Neji raised an eyebrow as Kankuro sat on the couch then let Neji's legs drop over his. Kankuro unfolded the note and smoothed it out on Neji's upper thigh. Neji twitched and Kankuro smirked at him.

"Oh wow, it's like a mission report," Kankuro said. "At twenty-one hundred hours and fifteen minutes, one Hyuuga Neji entered the Wild Snapdragon Bar and spoke with one Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi. One Mitarashi Anko and I, Morino Ibiki, noticed Hyuuga was in some sort of distress.

"We let him be with his former jonin-in-charge Might Guy and Guy's rival Kakashi. Once Hyuuga finished ten shots, we intervened, saying the poor jonin had a bit too much considering all he had eaten was a bowl of miso soup."

Kankuro paused here and took a sip of his juice. Neji did not remember Anko and Ibiki coming over.

"The Hyuuga insisted he was fine. It was then my partner and I decided we would make sure the Hyuuga, Guy, and Kakashi did not get into any trouble. We knew what Guy and Kakashi were capable of in a drunken state, who knew what adding the normally sane Neji to the mix would do?"

Kankuro burst out laughing. Neji groaned and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to remember any of this.

"More sake was had and at twenty-two hundred hours and a few minutes, Guy punched one Shiranui Genma for attempting to "assault his precious-genius" also known as Neji. Kakashi removed Guy from the bar with help from me and a stumbling Neji. Anko stayed behind to pay the tab and make sure Genma was okay. Wow,"

Neji recalled Genma sitting too close and asking if Neji needed some comforting of a different sort. He also remembered Guy punching Genma and sending the poor bastard through a table. Neji decided closing his eyes was best.

"Genma was fine but Guy insisted we go to the Flying Peacock bar as his "beautiful genius" again, Neji, was still suffering with the incapacity of his "flaming student" one Takenaka Kuma, and no one should suffer in their "springtime of youth." Note: there is no arguing with a drunken Might Guy when his students are involved. I'll bet,"

Neji felt the heat come to his cheeks but kept his eyes closed. Kankuro had started gently massaging Neji's shin and Neji enjoyed the contact.

"On the way to said bar, Neji had to be supported by myself and Guy by Kakashi. We had to detour to an alley way when Neji had to relieve the contents of his stomach. I held back his hair and when he was done he thanked me by patting my head and kissing me on the cheek, saying I was a "really nice guy" and "totally not as intimidating as people think." He then asked if I thought he was intimidating because of his eyes and I suggested we leave the alley way. Oh my god,"

Kankuro burst out laughing again. Neji sighed. He did hear Tora trying not to laugh. Akino had no problem and chuckled along with Kankuro.

"We made it to the Flying Peacock Bar by twenty-two and a half hours. Guy promptly regained his normal vigor and dragged Neji to the bar for more drinks. At twenty-three hundred hours and after a drinking contest in which I won (Neji owes me 6000 ryo for the win, Guy 12000, and Kakashi 8000), Guy pulled Neji towards the stage of the bar. Guy then selected the song "It's Raining Men" and,"

Kankuro had to stop to laugh. Akino was coughing he had been laughing so hard and Tora giggled. Oh Hell.

"Neji and Guy began to sing. Neji has an oddly good voice. The bar liked the rendition and Guy picked the song "I'm Too Sexy." Guy did some kind of odd aerial move to get his shirt down and Neji tossed his vest into the audience with accurate aim considering it hit me in the face,"

More laughter. Now Neji knew why his vest was undone.

"This was when Anko decided to start drinking, abandoning me in my mission to keep the three from destroying any property or causing any lasting damage. I do believe seeing a topless Neji dancing suggestively on a stage gave many men and women alike some lasting images for future personal sessions. I'd say,"

Kankuro, Tora, and Akino were enjoying this too much. Neji could do nothing about it.

"Neji should think of a career in stripping. Ha, Hell no. The bar thoroughly enjoyed the rendition and Neji picked the song "I Touch Myself." Wow, babe, that's, damn,"

Neji opened his eyes to see Kankuro had gone red. Akino snorted. Tora blushed into her glass of juice. Neji sighed and closed his eyes again.

"Neji kicked Guy off the stage (he landed on his feet then fell over on his head) when the song came on and well, there were a lot of people who needed a change of underwear after that rendition. It was then I decided it best to get Neji off the stage. People threw bottles at me but I've endured worse. Kakashi, being the only other somewhat non-drunk person, helped me get Guy, Neji, and Anko out into the street. Anko managed to grab Neji from me (and had a bottle of sake which I do not remember her grabbing but this is Anko) and began singing "I Touch Myself" down the street,"

Kankuro took a minute to laugh with Tora and Akino. Neji was beyond feeling embarrassed.

"Anko then started touching Neji in interesting ways but he pushed her off, stealing the sake from her in the process. As he took a victory swig, Anko lifted her shirt. Neji simply raised an eyebrow at her, finished drinking, wiped his mouth, and said "You have really big nipples." This caused Guy to fall over in laughter. Kakashi was all ready down from a nosebleed. I agree with Neji's assessment. Damn,"

Now Neji remembered Anko touching him. Wait. His hair hadn't been braided. Why the Hell had he let her braid his hair after touching him like that?

"We continued down the street and Anko saw bows for sale in a store window. Trying to stop Anko from buying something she wants when drunk is similar to an S-rank mission. I let her buy the bows. Haha,"

Neji had to smirk. Okay, this was pretty funny even if it was at his expense.

"Anko then suggested we braid Neji's hair but I knew the look in her eyes and her expertise with sharp objects. I did the actual braiding which likely saved Neji from coming out of the ordeal with a crop cut. Guy decorated Neji's hair with the bows while singing "I Feel Pretty." During the braiding we lost Anko. I decided it best not to go looking for her as Guy and Neji left in Kakashi's hands while drunk would not end well. No it wouldn't have,"

Neji agreed with the sentiment.

"We converged in a doll-house where Neji said he had hid from one Uchiha Sasuke one day. He would not say why he went in the doll-house like cafe but I do agree with his assessment that the chocolate caramel cake is "to die for." I do believe anyone in the cafe will be traumatized from see me, Guy, and Kakashi eating cake with a giggling Neji at zero hours. Oh god, you have to bring me to this cafe,"

That was not going to happen. Neji was glad even drunk he remembered few people could know about Hatomi.

"Guy then remembered Neji had to meet his students in five hours at training field twenty-seven. Guy then explained (it took him an hour) why Neji got so drunk in the first place. I sympathize with Neji and likely enjoyed him crying on my shoulder more than I should have. Huh. I might have to kick his ass,"

Neji smirked as Tora giggled. Akino muttered his word.

"We left the cafe at half past oh-two hundred hours, much to the relief of the owner who was supposed to close at oh-one hundred hours. We did eat all the left over cake so I don't believe he minded so much. And that's why you have chocolate on your chin,"

Neji wiped his chin.

"Guy insisted on running on his hands to work off the calories and took off. I put Neji onto my back in a piggy back position and followed. I lost Kakashi somewhere between Ichiraku Ramen and the bookstore he frequents. Note: Guy somehow gains more energy when drunk though this was likely due to the sugar. Second note: DO NOT let Might Guy have sugar when he is drunk. It ends badly. Good to know,"

Neji would highlight that later.

"I chased Guy around Konoha with Neji giggling on my back until oh-four-hundred hours when Guy realized the time and dragged me towards training field twenty-seven. Guy promptly passed out and I noticed Neji had fallen asleep on my back and drooled all over my shoulder. I left him by the poles and picked up Guy to return him to his home.

"I knew Neji would be safe as his students would come for him within the hour. I do not know what happened to Hyuuga Neji after this but I do know Might Guy is sleeping the night off. I will not bother looking for Anko or Kakashi as they abandoned me in the mission. They deserve wherever they ended up. Signed, Morino Ibiki. Wow,"

Neji said nothing as Kankuro laughed. Akino and Tora joined in but Neji decided it was best not to care. He did whine when Kankuro sat him up but decided to go along with it since Kankuro was removing the bows. Tora came to help and soon Kankuro was brushing out Neji's hair. Neji yawned heavily and heard Kankuro say they'd leave Neji to nap while Kankuro took them back to the training field. He heard no more and sunk into a deep sleep.

"I don't want anybody else, when I think of you, I touch myself,"

Neji lifted his head when he heard Kankuro singing. It Neji a few moments to realize he was lying on a couch and he had to turn so he could sit up. Neji got onto his back and looked over the back of the couch to see Kankuro cooking and dancing while he sung.

"I love myself; I want you to love me. When I feel down, I want you above me,"

It took Neji a few seconds to remember Kankuro knew everything about last night as did Tora and Akino. Neji sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. His brain had decided to melt out of his skull and his mouth tasted as if he had cotton balls in it.

"I don't want anybody else, when I think of you, I touch myself, Ooh, I don't want anybody else, oh no, oh no, oh no,"

Neji flushed as he remembered singing the song on stage and doing some risqué dance moves. He had made someone faint from a nose bleed. A few people had thrown ryo at him which he had tucked suggestively into his pants. Oh God.

"Oh I don't want anybody else, when I think about you, I touch myself,"

Kankuro singing the song was not helping. Neji groaned and looked towards the kitchen. He smirked when he saw Kankuro was shaking his ass as he cooked. Okay, maybe the puppet master singing this song wasn't so bad. Besides, the smells coming from Kankuro's kitchen were pretty good and didn't make Neji's stomach boil.

"You could touch me," Neji said as Kankuro got into the last minute of the song.

Kankuro paused and looked at him. Neji raised an eyebrow. Kankuro smiled.

"I touch my Neji," Kankuro sung.

Neji snorted as Kankuro turned back around. Neji shifted and got off the couch. His bladder protested and his head swam. Neji let out a breath, using the arm rest of the couch to support himself as he closed his eyes and rubbed his aching head.

"Where are you going?" Kankuro asked.

"I need to pee," Neji replied.

Neji heard Kankuro coming towards him and looked up. Kankuro still hummed the song as he helped Neji walk away from the couch and head towards the bathroom. Kankuro helped him get his pants down and snorted when ryo fell to the floor.

"Wow," Kankuro said.

Neji flushed but said nothing as Kankuro helped him sit on the toilet. Kankuro picked up the damp ryo and left it on the counter, still humming.

"Call me if you need a hand up,"

Kankuro left the bathroom. Neji smirked and shook his head. He relaxed and was glad Kankuro had helped him sit down on the toilet. He wouldn't have been able to stand for so long without getting dizzy. Neji finished up, cleaned up, and got to his feet carefully. It took him a moment to navigate getting his pants back up.

He looked into the mirror and blinked at his reflection. His hair weaved around his head in tangles and his face looked too shiny. Even his eyebrows were rumpled and he had a bit of a shadow of a beard going on. Neji's eyes were red-rimmed and he frowned. Neji splashed water on his face and found his toiletries bag.

It took him too long to wash up and brush his hair, proved true when Kankuro came to check on him. Neji smiled when Kankuro came into the room and wrapped an arm around Neji's waist, kissing him on the top of the head gently.

"Feel up for some crab udon?" Kankuro asked.

Neji inclined his head. He did gather up the ryo on the counter and tucked it into his open vest. Kankuro guided him into the kitchen and Neji happily sat. The crab udon was delicious, warm, and went down nicely. It stayed down which helped. Neji had a second helping as Kankuro dug into fried rice and steamed vegetables.

"Feeling any better?" Kankuro questioned.

Neji nodded and covered a yawn with a hand. He sipped the green tea Kankuro had placed on the table, not caring it was cooler than he liked.

"So I helped Tora and Akino with wind and water respectively. Tora's getting good, she just has to realize it is fine for her to let go. Akino's got no issues with that and when I sparred with him he used Mouth Shot and Palm Blade during his attacks. They wanted to visit Kuma but I said they should wait and go with you. I dismissed them at sixteen hundred hours,"

Kankuro ate some rice as Neji considered. Tomorrow would be odd. Sakura would come to train with Tora which meant Neji could freely train with Akino. It meant Kankuro could have a day off instead of watching Neji train.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I was in such a state this morning," Neji said.

Kankuro shrugged.

"It's okay, I don't blame you. I kind of wanted to follow you in the whole drinking thing but decided one of us had to be sober for Tora and Akino,"

Kankuro grinned when Neji chuckled. Neji finished his tea and grabbed a third helping of crab udon. It had helped settle his stomach and brought moisture back to his throat. It had also helped to wake him up.

"Also I got a note from Gaara saying Hiashi, Tsunade-sama, and Hanabi-sama are leaving Friday which means they'll be back on Sunday or Monday. They'll take a day to rest then the day after we're going to be meeting with the Hyuuga Elders,"

Neji winced. It helped to have a little over a week's warning but Neji did not want to think of meeting with the Hyuuga Elders as soon as Tuesday of next week. Hopefully the Mukai would request his team to come pick them up next Monday, assuming Kuma was able to move.

"Lovely, really," Neji muttered.

Kankuro shrugged.

"Has to be done. By the way, it's almost eighteen hundred hours in case you're wondering,"

Neji hadn't been but thanked Kankuro anyway. Kankuro got him more tea and Neji kissed him on the cheek in thanks. Neji almost spit tea out his nose when a knock came to the door. Kankuro frowned but went to answer it. Neji had a good view from his chair and flushed when Kankuro opened the door to reveal Ibiki.

"Ah, I see your Hyuuga is awake," Ibiki said.

Kankuro chuckled but stood aside to let Ibiki in. The Torture specialist had probably come to collect the ryo Neji owed him. Neji went through the pockets of his vest as Ibiki came into the kitchen with a smirk. Neji came up with four thousand ryo in crumpled bills from his impromptu show. Huh. That was damned impressive. Ibiki took the money with a smile.

"Thank you for everything you did for me last night," Neji told him.

Ibiki kept the smile on his face.

"Not a problem, Neji. The free show was nice," Ibiki said.

Neji flushed. Ibiki winked at Kankuro who had crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.

"I'll have the other two thousand for you tomorrow," Neji said.

"That's fine. Guy got away from me after I wrote the note. I found him singing to a dumpster by the way and trying to copy some of the moves you did during "I Touch Myself." I think the dumpster's scarred for life," Ibiki said.

Neji tried not to laugh, he really did, but he failed. Ibiki patted him on the shoulder. Kankuro watched with narrowed eyes but Ibiki ignored him.

"Anko was on a park bench surrounded by empty sake bottles and singing "It's Raining Men." Kakashi slept outside the book store he likes with a book over his face. A few kids were poking him with a stick. All and all, it was a good time," Ibiki said.

Neji shook his head. It was good to know he had been indoors not mentally scarring anyone and being able to sleep without being poked.

"We should do that again sometime," Ibiki said.

"Hell no," Neji told him.

Ibiki laughed and gave him a final pat on the shoulder. He nodded to Kankuro, patted the puppet master on the shoulder, and left. Kankuro walked him to the hotel room door and locked the door, chain and all.

"You do owe me," Kankuro said.

Neji blinked at him as Kankuro smiled. Neji watched as Kankuro walked over to the hotel's radio and hit some buttons. "I Touch Myself" came on and Neji groaned. He put his head in his hands and ignored Kankuro singing and dancing to the song.

"C'mon babe, gimme a dance," Kankuro said.

Neji chuckled and shook his head. He kept laughing when Kankuro pulled Neji to his feet and began swinging his arms back and forth. Neji started moving his hips to the beat and Kankuro grinned.

"I don't want anybody else, when I think of you, I touch myself," Neji sung.

Kankuro grinned. Neji continued singing and moving to the song while Kankuro sung along with him, failing at copying Neji's motions. Finally Kankuro gave up and leaded against the counter, watching Neji with a broad smile on his face. Neji peeled off his vest and threw it in Kankuro's face.

Kankuro laughed then stopped with a choking sound when Neji bent over and shook his ass in Kankuro's direction. Neji turned and started touching himself to the song. He smiled at Kankuro as the puppet master gaped. The song went into the repeat of "I touch myself" and Neji sauntered over to Kankuro, whispering the words in Kankuro's ear and running his hands up and down Kankuro's body. Kankuro didn't last until the first "I honestly do."

Neji laughed as Kankuro lifted him into his arms and ran into the bedroom. Neji stopped laughing when Kankuro tossed him onto the bed and started kissing him. Neji didn't mind when Kankuro made short work of their pants, lubing Neji up quickly. All Neji could do was spread his legs and moan so Kankuro had better access.

Neji gasped when Kankuro pushed inside then groaned into Kankuro's ear, closing his eyes in pleasure. Kankuro didn't wait to start moving and Neji clenched his legs around Kankuro's waist, hands running up and down Kankuro's back. He was careful not to use his nails as he met Kankuro thrust for thrust. They didn't last long and called out their release seconds apart, panting and shivering in each other's arms.

"Fuck," Kankuro said.

"We just did," Neji told him.

Kankuro snorted at him before kissing the tip of his nose. Neji held Kankuro close and caught his breath.

"Ibiki's right," Kankuro said.

"About?"

"You being a stripper. Damn that was hot,"

Kankuro yelped when Neji smacked him in the back of the head with a pillow. This started a pillow fight of epic proportions. Neji fell off the bed but didn't care as he grinned, whapping his pillow towards Kankuro who followed him to the floor. Kankuro's pillow exploded, sending feathers everywhere and Neji couldn't help but snicker.

Kankuro had managed to straddle him. The dropped jaw and wide eyes from the pillow giving in looked hilarious, especially when highlight by feathers falling to the ground. Neji whacked Kankuro in the face with his pillow and Kankuro grunted before smiling. He grabbed Neji's wrists in his hands but Neji had no problem letting him. Neji didn't bother to struggle when Kankuro leaned down and kissed him.

They kissed on the floor surrounded by feathers for several moments. Touching came into the picture and Neji gasped when Kankuro touched the back of his neck, fingers tracing along Neji's spine. They started slow but within minutes Kankuro had flipped Neji onto his stomach, hoisted his hips up and started pounding into him again.

Neji had zero complaints and thrust back into Kankuro, grasping the area rug and panting out Kankuro's name. Release flowed over them and Neji let his hips drop, making Kankuro follow the downward motion with a grunt. Neji said nothing as Kankuro ran fingers through Neji's hair.

"Okay, now I'm tired," Kankuro said.

Neji chuckled and shifted so he could kiss Kankuro's cheek. Kankuro grinned and kissed Neji's forehead, lingering an extra moment which made Neji flush. They lay on the floor until Neji sneezed from almost inhaling a feather. Kankuro laughed at him but helped Neji to his feet. Neji yelped when Kankuro tossed him back into bed and blinked when Kankuro pushed him down but got off the bed.

"What—" Neji tried.

Kankuro pointed at him. Neji blinked.

"Stay," Kankuro said firmly.

Neji stared at him. Kankuro smirked then began cleaning up the mess. Neji decided to do as he was told. Besides, staying on the bed meant he could watch Kankuro moving around half naked to clean up the feathers. Tomorrow would be interesting but Neji didn't mind. Interesting kept him on his toes.

Let's all take a break and imagine Neji dancing to "I Touch Myself" and giving Kankuro a show, yeah? ;)

Reviews welcome, next chapter coming soon.