Neji lifted his hands in front of his face, trying to see something. It had been almost a month since he had started with Tsunade's therapy, and he was getting more and more impatient with each passing day. He could notice a small change in his vision. The darkness of his eyes was starting to light up. Instead of black, he could now see a bright white, but he still couldn't make out shapes.
He cursed and lowered his hands again. "Don't get frustrated", he heard the voice of Tenten somewhere near. The girl had stayed by his side during the whole process, taking him to the Godaime and then back to their tent everyday. Having Tsunade's healing power acting over his face made him exhausted and dizzy, and after each session he needed to lay down and get some rest. That's how he felt now, tired and a bit sick, but that was nothing compared with how he had felt the first days of therapy.
The first sessions had lasted just a couple of minutes, because the Godaime wanted to start slowly, in order to protect Neji. The boy had insisted that he could take longer sessions, but after the first day he realized why Tsunade was being so cautious. His body felt weak and his eyes ached like hell. Walking back to the tent was harder that he had imagined, and he was glad to have Tenten's help in those moments.
Neji lay down over his sleeping bag, letting out an exasperated exhalation. He knew recovery required time, and that he had to be patient. But he had a very clear objective: being able to see by the time Shikamaru came back. That was really all he cared about, and he couldn't bare the idea of not making it on time.
He recalled his last conversation with the Nara before the boy left for his mission. He remembered that moment all the time, because there had been something strange in it. Specially in the way Shikamaru had hugged him, as if the boy thought that was the last time they were going to see each other. At first Neji didn't understand it, but with the passing of days he realized, if he recovered his sight, he was never going to "see" Shikamaru in the ways he had got used to do it. They had build up they relationship based on the fact that Neji was blind, and that had conditionated all the ways they interacted with each other. Maybe the Nara had felt all that was coming to its end, and that was why he was been so reluctant about leaving. Perhaps he thought things were going to change between them, and he didn't want that to happen.
But that was ridiculous. Of course Shikamaru wanted Neji to recover his eyes. After all, the boy cared about him, a lot.
Unconsciously, the Hyuuga took a hand to his cheek and touched the place where Shikamaru had kissed him before leaving. It had been the most affectionate gesture anyone had ever had with him, and just thinking about it still made his heart beat fast. During the last years he had wondered so many times about how it would feel to receive a kiss from the Nara, and it turned out it was nothing like he had imagined. Despite of the many days that had passed after it, Neji could still feel the ghost of Shikamaru's lips over his skin. He found himself wishing to never forget about that sensation.
Shikamaru stood near the edge of the cliff and looked down. They had traveled for more than a month to get to where the survivors were hiding. Sadly, his parents weren't among them. This made him feel extremely angry with himself, because instead of being there he could be at the camp helping Neji with his recovery. He regretted about leaving during the whole trip, and now that he could confirm his parents weren't there, he felt even worse.
He turned around an inch to look at the survivors from over his shoulder. They were four people, and he didn't know any of them. They were very weak and malnourished, so the team would have to wait for a few days until they felt strong enough for the long journey. They had carried enough food for them, and fortunately nobody was hurt, so they just needed to feed them and when they had recovered some energy they'll be ready to get back.
Shikamaru turned to the abyss again. He was pretty disappointed about not having news from his parents yet, but he knew he shouldn't lose hope. Survivors were still appearing here and there, so there was still a chance for them to be alive. The world was simply too big to rule out the possibility.
In that moment, a movement coming from below caught his attention. He focused his sight in that exact point, and saw one single Zetsu at the foot of the mountain. Apparently it had seen them and was trying to climb the rocky wall to get them, but it continued falling down. It was weird to find one of those creatures alone. The thing had probably came from the earth with many others, but those had been defeated. Shikamaru watched it growling as it kept intending to reach for them. "Stupid beast", he whispered.
As hearing him speak, Kiba approached from behind to stand next to him. "Something interesting?", he asked. Shikamaru pointed down to the insistent Zetsu. "Where did that one came from?".
The Nara shrinked his shoulders. "It probably has been wandering around just looking for someone to kill", he answered flatly.
Kiba inclined his head to a side, thinking as he watched the creature with growing interest. "Its alone, right? Man, this is a great opportunity!". He turned around to the others and made a sign with his hands to Ino and Choji. The two friends approached as well and looked down.
"For what?", Shikamaru questioned, not following.
"The medics at the camp had wanted to study those things anatomy for years to learn more about them, but they can't do it with the dead ones because they rotten in less than an hour", the Inuzuka explained. Shikamaru knew this, because he had tried the same thing a couple of times with the same results. "We've been trying to capture one of them alive, but it's hard because there's always more than one. Let's get closer to see if we can get it".
After telling the survivors to wait for them, the three shinobis started walking. Shikamaru followed them, still doubting. "You want to capture it?", he asked, confused. "But this things don't stop fighting until they're dead. Its impossible to study their bodies while they're alive".
"I know", Kiba answered, as he kept walking down the mountain carefully. "But we figured that if it we manage to cut its arms and maybe its legs it will be a lot easier".
Shikamaru felt a chill traveling down his spine, and he stopped walking. That sentence took him to a moment in the past, about a year and a half ago. He had had this same idea one afternoon as he wondered with Neji through desert lands. The memory hit him in the face like a bucket of cold water.
He stared at the creature crawling over the grass. It had lost both legs, which meant it had been in a fight. He already knew by now that the only way to kill those things was cutting their heads off, or to nail a sharp kunai on the soft point at their napes. If not, they simply stayed alive, not matter how many parts they were missing. He had always thought he could probably figure out something more about them it he had the chance to study them closely, and this was a very good chance to do it. The thing was alone and it had very little mobility, so if he managed to cut its arms too, it would be really easy to go on from that point.
"Wait here", he told Neji, who was standing next to him, staring right ahead though he couldn't see.
"What are you going to do?", the Hyuuga asked while Shikamaru looked for his kunai inside his backpack.
"If I manage to immobilize it completely maybe I'll be able to see how its body works", he explained, focusing on the task ahead. He stood up and approached to the crawling creature. "It doesn't have legs, so if I cut its arms too…".
"What?", Neji interrupted him. "You can't do that".
Shikamaru understood that the Hyuuga thought it was dangerous and risky, so he tried to calm him down. "It won't hurt me if I'm careful", he affirmed, slowly walking to the beast.
At his back, Neji started sounding uncomfortable. "That is not what I meant", he clarified. "It's cruel".
This made Shikamaru stop. He turned around to the Hyuuga and saw that the boy was frowning. "What?", he asked with astonishment. "You feel empathy towards this things after all they've done?".
Neji pursed his lips. It was really obvious that he didn't approve Shikamaru's plan at all. "No", he answered. "But you don't know if they can feel pain. You cannot slaughter it and keep it alive to study it. That's horrible".
Shikamaru was shocked. Was Neji really saying this? "Who cares if they can feel pain? They have murdered thousands of people. Why should we have mercy on them?".
The Hyuuga frowned even more and stared right at him, knowing exactly where he was for the sound of his voice. "Because the fact that they are ruthless beast does not mean we have to be like that too", he said firmly. "We are not monsters".
Shikamaru went silent for a long minute, in which he studied Neji's expression. It was hard and serious, because he really meant what he was saying. Suddenly, his attention flew to the scars around the Hyuuga's eyes, that had been caused by those maniacs who had captured him long ago. He imagined Neji tied to a cold metal surface, being tortured while a group of people studied his eyes, without caring about how much pain they were causing him. The mental image turned Shikamaru's gut around, and in that instant he understood what he had been about to do.
"You're right", he answered, still surprised of his own lack of touch towards Neji. "I can't do that. Its awful". He turned to watch the Zetsu still crawling slowly at his feet, and for the first time, he felt sorry for the creature. Shikamaru stared at the Hyuuga again. "I'm glad you were here to stop me".
Finally Neji's expression softened, and he smiled.
He came back to reality. His friends were still walking towards the Zetsu, not noticing that he wasn't following them anymore. He realized immediately that he had to stop them.
"Wait!", he screamed, and everybody turned to look at him. Shikamaru ran to reach them, knowing it would be hard to convince them. "We can't do that".
"Why not?", Ino questioned, staring at him with confusion.
"It's cruel", the Nara answered, hearing Neji's voice in his head. His friends looked at him incredulous.
"Cruel?", Kiba repeated. "And what about them? Weren't they cruel with us?"
Shikamaru lowered his shoulders. He understood the Inuzuka's feelings, but despite of that he found himself speaking with Neji's words. "It doesn't mean we have to be like that too", he said, soft, but clear. "We are not monsters".
His friends exchanged stares. They obviously thought he had lost his mind, but didn't say it. "So what?", Ino asked. "We just leave it here and miss the chance?".
They didn't seem willing to do that. Shikamaru understood for how long they had been waiting for this opportunity, but he couldn't help feeling that he had to protect that horrible thing from the unnecessary violence to which his friends wanted to submit it. "We can try to capture it without hurting it", he suggested. "If we make it we can take it back to the camp and just study its behavior".
Kiba rolled his eyes at him. "If it were that easy we would've done it long ago".
That was true, for sure. Even if the Zetsu was alone, they couldn't risk being bitten and have an infection. This was definitely going to be troublesome, but Shikamaru knew he had to make it work.
Neji stared at the blurry image in front of him. He was sitting over his sleeping bag, watching his reflection on a shield that Tenten had gotten it for him so he could use it as a mirror. His sight wasn't clear yet, but even if he couldn't see the details, he could recognize his own face. He focused on his eyes, trying to make out the colour. They were of a diluted, faint pink, which was still far from their original lavender tone. His skin looked the same, though. Pale pearl, like he remembered it. But there was something contrasting with the white around his eyes. Neji took a hand to his face to slid his fingers over the scars that covered his eyelids. They were dark red, very notorious, and they were very likely going to be there for ever. So even if he recovered his sight completely, he would always have a reminder of how his life had been in that state.
To think that his scars would be the only thing that wouldn't change after having his eyes back made him feel empty inside. Of course he wanted to be able to see again and leave all that suffering and the feeling of disability behind, but at the same time, as things become clearer, his feelings got harder and harder to decipher. He had the sensation of being walking away from the person he had came to be during those last years. And the most important matter about that person was how he had got to be that way, and thanks to whom.
The echo of Shikamaru's voice rumbled inside his head. "I'll be back soon. I promise". The last visual memories he had from the Nara were form almost three years ago, when they were still in Konoha. A lot had happened after that, and he couldn't help to wonder if Shikamaru had changed physically from the way he remembered him. He probably looked older now, more like a young man than like a boy. Neji tried to reconstruct his face: he had very sharp features, and deep, black eyes, but he couldn't recall much more. What he couldn't forget was the warmth of his body during the cold winter nights, and the sweet and kind sound of his voice when he tried to comfort him.
His mind traveled to the day when Shikamaru had found him. The boy had taken care of him until his fever finally came down, being extremely gentle and devoted. Neji stared at the blurry scars around his eyes, and realized how bad his condition had probably been on those times. Fortunately for him, Shikamaru had kept things under control with patience and kindness, and after Neji started feeling better, he had done all he could to just keep his spirits up. Until that moment, the Hyuuga had never imagined himself laughing with anyone's silly jokes, but somehow Shikamaru had managed to accomplish that. A particular memory came back to him.
He was sitting over the grass near the fire, in front of a big pile of dead scorpions. That was all Shikamaru had found to eat, so they had to settle with it. Neji knew he had to remove the part where the venom was, which was right before the sting. He took the first scorpion and pulled from the tail, trying not to tear it into pieces. Unfortunately, the thing was more fragile that he had expected, and it ended up falling apart between his fingers.
"Stupid bug", he complained, throwing the remains of the scorpion to a side.
"Scorpions are not actually bugs, you know", he heard Shikamaru saying not far away from him.
"What?", he asked, as he reached for another one.
"Bugs are insects", the Nara explained. "And scorpions are not insects".
Neji shook his head, disagreeing. "Of course they are", he answered.
"No, they're not", Shikamaru insisted. "They're arachnids".
"Spider are arachnids", the Hyuuga corrected him.
He heard Shikamaru approaching slowly. "Well, yeah", he admitted. "As well as scorpions".
Neji rolled his blind eyes at him. "I think the heat is messing up with your brain", he teased.
"My brain is fine", the Nara replied. "And you are wrong".
"I am not", he said, sure of his own words though he didn't know much about bugs, because he had made a statement and would go all the way with it. "Scorpions are insects".
"They're not", Shikamaru repeated. "And there is a very easy way to prove it. Want me to tell you how?".
Neji couldn't help to smile softly. The Nara wasn't going to let it go either. He exhaled in amusement. "Please, I can't wait", he answered sarcastically.
"Insects have six legs", Shikamaru said. "But arachnids have eight. Tell me, Hyuuga, how many legs does that scorpion have?".
Neji inspectionated the scorpion he was holding in his hands and counted its legs. It had four on each side of its body, which meant Shikamaru was right.
"Well?", the Nara questioned at his back, and Neji could hear he was having a blast.
He was still a proud person, reason why he hated to admit his mistakes. So instead of doing it, he pursed his lips. "Shut up".
Shikamaru laughed. "So I win!", he exclaimed, and Neji could hear him doing something strange with his feet.
He turned his head to a side and arched his eyebrows incredulously. "Did you dance?", he asked.
"No, I didn't", the Nara replied as he walked away a little.
Neji chuckled, knowing that he had nailed the sound. "Yes you did", he said. "You made a little triumphal dance".
"I did not", Shikamaru affirmed, but Neji could hear the truth in his voice. He simply waited for the Nara's confession. "Fine, maybe just a tiny one".
This made Neji laugh openly. Just the image of Shikamaru dancing around was too hilarious, and he wished he could have seen it. Despite of that, he answered the exact opposite. "I am so glad of being blind right now".
He heard Shikamaru growling not far away. "Shut up", the Nara said, repeating Neji's words.
It was impossible not to smile at the memory, and as he kept remembering, Neji realized how many funny moments like that one they had shared during the last years. Being around Shikamaru in that way, just hanging out with a friend, was something he had never really experienced before. Back in Konoha he used to maintain just the inevitable interactions with people, that including his team. With the Nara he had discovered he liked the company, and preferred it over loneliness. Especially if it was Shikamaru's.
Neji closed his eyes trying to evoke the Nara's face, and he only saw the teenager he remembered from Konoha. But he wanted to be able to see him in those moments they had spent together, goofing around, teasing him, dancing. That was what he really wanted. To give a face to the voice he had been hearing at his side for the last two years.
He opened his eyes again and stared at his foggy reflection. Would Shikamaru be happy when he got back? Would it be weird for him? Maybe he could feel uncomfortable. What would happen when they meet stares for the first time? Neji had a million questions, but just one answer: he needed to see him.
It was a complicated problem. They had few things besides from food, so they couldn't craft anything to trap the Zetsu. A chain would have been the best, so the creature couldn't chew it and break free, but they didn't have something like that. Standing near the edge of the cliff, Shikamaru looked around, trying to find something that could work. He stared at the survivors, and saw that one of them was eating a big, round fruit. He had eaten those fruits too, because it was one of the things that was cultivated at the cmap. The rind was hard and resistant. Maybe they could try something out with it.
When he proposed to empty a bunch of those fruits his team simply stared at him. It sounded a little stupid, but it had to work. He finally convinced them, and they managed to empty and clean three big ones. Now they had to cut them. Shikamaru was thinking something like protectors, but with the objective of keeping the beast from biting and scratching. One tied to each hand, and another one covering the toothy mouth. It the fruit resisted, the creature wouldn't be able to take the protectors off.
Now it came the hard part: putting them on a wild, dangerous Zetsu. It took, indeed, a lot of time, and good teamwork, but they finally managed to tie two fruits to the beast hands, and a third half one over its mouth. The creature tried and tried to free itself, but didn't made it. They tied a rope around its neck to control it and that was all.
Right at that moment the survivors announced they were ready to start the trip, so they settled for the long return. At first it was hard to drag the Zetsu around, but very quickly they discovered that Choji was actually really good at it. The creature seemed to realize that there was no point in fighting the Akimichi strength, so it started giving up. It still attacked if someone approached, but at a safe distance it was actually manageable.
They walked and walked and walked, stopping only at nights to get some rest. There was a whole month of traveling ahead, and every day, Shikamaru spent it wondering about Neji. Asking himself if the therapy had worked out okay, and if the Hyuuga would be able to see him. This thoughts made him very stressed, so in order to not show it, he decided to talk the less he could.
Every night before falling asleep, he stared at the Zetsu for hours. There was something very disturbing about the creature, but Shikamaru was pretty sure of knowing what it was. The fact that it was chained like a prisoner made him think so much about Neji and his captors that it was almost unbearable to watch. But even though, he kept doing it. One particular rainy night he simply didn't sleep at all. He was too interested in the beast. His friends had suggested to put it under cover, because everybody knew that Zetsus' grew stronger with the rain. But Shikamaru insisted it letting it get wet, just to see how the water affected it from a close distance.
He was expecting the creature to swell up and start trying to remove the protectors again, but instead, it simply sat under the rain with its face towards the sky and didn't move. It was weird that the thing didn't mind about having its mouth covered, but if Shikamaru had been right with his previous deductions and the Zetsus were something like plants, then they didn't need their mouths to feed. But if they got their food from the rain and the sun, through the porous, leafy looking skin, why did they have mouths at all?
Shikamaru stared at the green circle of moss that surrounded the beast. The Zetsu was always leaving that trail, as if it was suppurating it. Over the grass the moss started acting immediately, rooting what was under it. But over the rocks, it simply turned pale and dissolved until it disappear. Which was the use of that green shit? He knew the Zetsus spread it, but for what reason? And why were those creatures so desperate for killing humans all the time, if they didn't feed on them?.
Shikamaru watched the rain shining over the green thing. Maybe the Zetsus haunted humans to feed the moss. And maybe it wasn't moss, but mold. He knew that every single thing the green shit touched started rooting in little time, and rooting was no other thing than decomposition produced by an organism, at it was exactly how mold acted. Perhaps because the mold didn't have mobility, the Zetsus were in charge of spread it and provide food for it. But what would they get in exchange? Why did organisms do things, besides from feeding? Reproduction? Maybe the mold was what produced the Zetsus, though it sounded extremely bizarre. But what is the Zetsus and the mold were a different stage of one same thing? Perhaps through the decomposition of human bodies, the mold could create more Zetsus.
That was horrible. It practically meant that Zetsus were part humans, and that was simply terrifying. Shikamaru shook his head, but he just couldn't stop thinking about it.
Neji looked at his face in the clear reflection that watched him back from the shield. That was it. After almost three months, the therapy was over. He could see, and just as well as he had in the past. His eyes were a bit more sensitive now, though. Bright lights made them ache, but it was bearable. The Hokage had made him just one warning: to never, ever, use his Byakugan again. She said his eyes simply wouldn't resist it, and that the damage after that would be irreversible. That was a very big loss, but at least he was going to be able to fight face to face again. He didn't look disabled anymore.
Neji wondered his eyes around the room and saw the bō resting next to his sleeping bag. Since the moment Shikamaru had left, he had keep it by his side all the time. Somehow, it made him feel stronger as he struggled with his recovery. The Nara's team wasn't back yet, and they still had no news about them. Uncertainty was all he had, because there was no way of knowing if something had happened to them. Neji reached for the bō and slowly slid his fingertips over the dark wood. He had his eyes now, he was ready to see Shikamaru, but there was still no sign of him.
Neji wished so many times to activate his Byakugan and search for the Nara, but then all his efforts would have been in vian. He had to settle with trying to feel his chakra, so all days and all nights he closed his eyes inside his tent and intended to perceive Shikamaru's presence. As time went by, he grew more and more worried.
He was seriously considering going out to go find them, because he feared they could have gotten hurt, when one morning, he felt something. His skin bristled and his heart jumped at recognizing the Nara's chakra. He was in the camp, without doubt.
What should he do? Run to meet with him? That was what he wanted, definitely, but maybe it was too direct. Shikamaru would probably look for him, so he could also just wait. He stood still in the middle of his tent, with his back to the entrance. He felt the Nara's chakra moving around the camp, every second a bit closer. His heart started beating fast against his chest and his breathing rate accelerated.
He had been waiting for that moment for the last three months, and yet he wasn't ready for it. Feeling cornered, he thought about leaving the tent and hide for a while until he managed to control his emotions. But that would only delay the encounter, and there was no point in doing such a thing. He wanted to see Shikamaru, more than anything. Running away was not an option.
Fortunately, the Nara seemed to have made the decision for him, because he kept approaching to his tent. His chakra was steady, but at the same time, it felt disturbed. Was Shikamaru nervous about see him too? Maybe he was, but not enough to panic and leave. He probably wanted to check on Neji's state after having been away for so long, because that was what he always did, care about him.
When Shikamaru stopped at the entrance, Neji felt a chill running down his spine. He had a strange sensation of butterflies fluttering inside his stomach, something he had never experienced before. He heard the Nara stepping into the tent, but still, he didn't turn around. His whole body was paralyzed, by fear and expectation. Shikamaru was standing right behind him, but he felt as if there was a deep abyss between them. The Nara didn't talk for a long moment, and Neji couldn't help to wonder why was he thinking. He had to turn around and face him, but his feet wouldn't move.
"Hey…", Shikamaru's voice said at his back. He sounded tired, but his tone was still as soft and kind as Neji remember it. It was ridiculous to stay like that anymore, and after hearing his voice, he felt he couldn't wait any longer. He took a deep breathe, trying to calm down the anticipation that was rising in his chest, and turned around slowly.
There he was. Nara, Shikamaru, with his high ponytail and his lazy posture, just like he remembered him. His body looked a bit tense, though, but Neji couldn't take a second to think about it. He had stopped breathing when he saw the boy's face.
He looked a lot like the kid he recalled from Konoha, but a little older. He was definitely not a child anymore, and had become a handsome, young men. He was really tall now, and his skin was slightly tanned. There were a couple of scars Neji hadn't seen before, one over his cheek, another one near his chin. Had he gotten them while they were together? He wanted to ask, but when Shikamaru's deep black eyes stared directly at him, he felt out of words.
The Nara made a step towards him and frowned softly. He was studying Neji's eyes, probably noticing that they had recovered their usual lavender color. It seemed like we was about to say something, but hesitated. Was he afraid of something? After long seconds, he finally dared to speak. "Can you see me?".
Yes, yes he could, and it was the most wonderful view he could have asked for. He wanted to say this out loud, but his voice refused to come out. Instead of answering, he pursed his lips and nodded.
Shikamaru's expression went black for a moment. Now he knew Neji could see him, and they were finally face to face. What were they supposed to do now? Was he asking himself the same thing? The Hyuuga wanted to say he was happy to see him, but the words died in his throat. When Shikamaru finally smiled, Neji felt his knees getting weaker.
"That is...", the Nara started saying, as he walked slowly to stand in front of him. "So great".
Neji could tell his smile and words were honest, but he still couldn't answer. When Shikamaru stopped just inches away from him, he could made out the details of his face. This was the person who had been by his side in his worst times, the person who had done everything he could to help him overcome his blindness. If it hadn't been for him, Neji wouldn't be alive now. If it hadn't been for Shikamaru, he would be nothing but a memory. He could see him clearly now, but he had waited for so long to put a face on the voice he had been hearing during the last years, that he couldn't believe his eyes.
Shikamaru must have noticed that something was going on, because he inclined his head to a side and watched him with concern. "Neji…?", he asked softly. But the Hyuuga was still afraid that the image in front of him was just a cruel vision.
He needed confirmation, and he couldn't talk yet. So he slowly lifted one hand and approached it to the Nara's face. The boy didn't move. When Neji's fingertips touched his cheek, he felt his eyes aching with repressed tears.
Inch by inch, he slid his fingers through Shikamaru's face, trying to convince himself that all that was real. He was touching the Nara in the same way he had done it before the boy left for his mission, but now he could see him. Emotions swirled inside him, and he couldn't contain himself anymore. Without making a sound, and without really knowing what he was doing, he made a step forward and leaned closer to softly press his lips against Shikamaru's.
Neji closed his eyes and everything around him disappeared. He forgot about the tent, the camp, the survivors. The only thing that existed was Shikamaru. Shikamaru with his silly jokes, his relaxed laugh, and his sweet, affectionate voice. Shikamaru, the person who had saved him.
He lost track of time. Suddenly, the feeling of the Nara's lips against his snapped him out of that state. He opened his eyes, to find Shikamaru staring directly at him, completely astonished. His shocked expression made Neji realize about what he was doing, and he immediately moved his head back to break the kiss. He lowered his eyes, knowing that the Nara was watching him with his mouth wide open. Neji clenched his fists, feeling extremely uncomfortable. He knew he was blushing intensely.
"I'm… Sorry...", he stuttered, wanting to kick himself and run away from the tent.
Shikamaru didn't answer. He neither moved, or made a single sound. Neji couldn't gather the strength to look at him, because he was just too embarrassed. This was the first time they saw each other after years of darkness, and he did this? He hadn't even said hello, but he had to go and kiss the Nara. What would Shikamaru think of him?.
He didn't dare to look up and find out, so he waited. Why didn't he say something? Was he angry? Offended? Neji realized he was starting to shiver, when Shikamaru reached out a hand to softly grab his wrist.
He flinched with the touch of the Nara's fingers on his skin. Neji looked down to see how Shikamaru's hand slid down his wrist, caressing him all the way down. The younger boy grasped his hand, while he lifted the other one to gently touch Neji's chin. With amazing kindness, he moved his head up, making their stares meet.
What he saw in those deep, black eyes made him freeze. It was like staring into a mirror, and the reflection was even clearer than the one on his shield. He saw tears struggling to get out, realizing they felt exactly the same. Shikamaru's hands traveled through his jaw to his nape and dipped into his thick mane. The Nara brought him closer as he leaned down, and in a fast move he joined their lips again.
Neji stared at him stunned for a second, but Shikamaru took a big breath and pressed their mouths together, deepening the kiss. The Hyuuga felt him making his way through his lips, until their tongues tangled. Shikamaru's taste was nothing he could have imagined, because what made it so delicious was the wild desire the Nara was putting into the kiss. It felt like he was finally letting out something he had been trying to block for a very long time, and was now crashing to the ground while he collapsed against Neji.
Shikamaru moved forward, taking both hands to his head and fisting his hair between his fingers. Neji had to take a step back, because the Nara was coming to him too strong, but he took his hands to the boy's forearms and nailed his fingers on them, keeping him close. They both closed their eyes, and got lost in eachother.
Neji though his heart could explode. Was that the happiest he had felt in his entire life? Yes, it definitely was. All his worries from the last months simply vanished in the air, while the taste of Shikamaru's tongue took him to a quiet, beautiful place where pain didn't exist. He wanted to stay in that place forever, but suddenly loud screams coming from outside broke the peace.
Just like that, their bubble burst. Ino's voice was too close, and they both moved backwards at the same time to put some distance between their bodies. In that instant the Yamanaka's head picked through the entrance. Shikamaru turned to look at her.
"Here you are!", she yelled at the Nara. "Come fast! The Godaime wants to talk with you. And she was very serious. Hurry up!".
She really sounded hurried, because she didn't even realized Neji wasn't blind anymore. Just as she had came, she disappeared from the tent in a blink.
Shikamaru turned again to Neji. They stared at each other for a long moment, not knowing what to say. They simply stood there until it started feeling stupid, so they both smiled. The Nara looked as relieved as Neji felt. After a few seconds, they were laughing softly of themselves.
Shikamaru made a step back, still smiling wide. "I… have to go", he said, scratching the back of his neck as he moved to the entrance. He stopped just before leaving, and looked at Neji with the sweetest eyes he had ever seen. "But I'll see you later".
The Hyuuga knew he was smiling openly as well, and didn't care about it. Instead of answering, he just nodded firmly. Shikamaru nodded too, and watched him for a few more seconds. Then he smiled one last time and turned to leave.
New chapter! Yay!
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! It's like the chapter I've been wanting to write since I started this story. Can't wait to see if you guys liked it!
Also, a heads up: this story is near its end as well. We have just a few chapters left, but luckily there will be many other stories coming soon!
Thank you as always for your unconditional support :´)
Lastly, a tiny question: which is the plural for Zetsu? Is it Zetsus or Zetsus'? How should I write it? I can't pin this down, sorry.