Yikes, I have to get this NejiKankuro out of my system. -flexes hands- I'll get more on other pairings in next chapter, but this one is NejiKan-centric!

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, Never will. T.T

Neji turned slowly.

"Gai sensei, is this your date?"

Gai beamed happily.

"Why yes! This wonderful vision of youth is Nadeshiko Keesha!"

Keesha smiled at everyone and bowed politely. They were still pretty shocked except for one person. T.C. smiled at the couple.

"So auntie, when did this happen?"

Keesha blushed slightly. Her and Gai were about to go searching for Kakashi and Iruka when Gai had asked her on a real date on impulse.

-Flashback-

"Keesha-san! I was wondering if you would so honor me by letting me take you on a real date!"

Keesha looked surprised for a second, then a slight blush covered her cheeks.

"Hai, I would like that Gai-san."

-End flashback-

Neji looked shocked beyond belief that his sensei had asked someone on a date. Gaara was impressed that Gai had gotten someone to agree on a date. Kakashi was slightly in shock (not that you could tell on the outside) and Naruto's mouth was hanging open. Iruka gently closed it. Keesha beamed at Kakashi.

"Ah, you must be Hatake-san! Gai-san has told me so much about you. And who is this?"

She looked toward Iruka and he hurried to introduce himself.

"I'm Umino Iruka. It's very nice to meet you Nadeshiko-san."

"Please call me Keesha. Gai-san and I were just on our way to get tea. Would you two like to join us?"

"Hai, that would be very nice. Thank you for inviting us."

Kakashi merely nodded. The adults bid goodbye to the younger shinobi, then walked out of the shop. Kankuro looked at Temari.

"Can we leave now?"

Temari nodded and everyone went their separate ways. Neji was escorting T.C and Hinata out of the shop when he saw Kankuro waiting outside with his arms crossed and staring into space. The two girls saw this and immediately told Neji that they had somewhere to go and no, he didn't have to escort them. Almost before the pale eyed boy could blink the girls were gone, leaving him alone with the puppet master. Neji decided to initiate a conversation.

"Are you going to stand there all day like an idiot, or do you have a reason to be there?"

Kankuro turned toward him, slightly exasperated.

"No, I was just waiting to hear your barbed sarcasm to brighten my day. Is it possible for you too start a conversation without an insult Hyuuga?"

"Maybe. So what are you waiting for?"

Kankuro seemed to debate with himself for a little while then threw his shopping bag to Neji, who caught it easily. Inside was… a black panther plushie. A lot like the tora plushie he'd given him at the festival.

"I wasn't sure if you would find something you liked, and I saw this and… I dunno, cats just seem to suit you."

'Why I would buy something for you I still don't know. Maybe I was bored?'

Neji stared at the plushie, a little surprised.

'Wow, this is exactly the type I wanted.'

"…Arigato."

"Gasp. The ice-prince said something nice. Lets all run and hide."

Kankuro had a smirk on his face.

"I think the correct response is, 'you're welcome.' Bastard.'

You were asking for it.

YOU! Go away!

Sorry, you're stuck with me. Aw, he gave us a plushie!

Yeah…that was nice of him, I guess.

While Neji was having his inner dialogue, Kankuro was about to walk away. Suddenly… a bucket of water dropped out of the sky and landed on his head.

"SHIT!"

Kankuro's slightly muffled yell brought Neji back into reality. He looked to see the Suna nin throwing a bucket and his black cat hat to the side and scrubbing at his face, muttering about f-ing buckets falling from the sky and soaking him. Neji walked over to him, wondering WTF he was talking about. Sensing his approach, Kankuro looked up; Neji stared.

'OMFG.'

The water had washed off Kankuro's face paint. Underneath the purple and white monstrosity, Kankuro was… pretty hot. He looked kind of like Gaara (minus panda eyes, kanji, red hair, and death glare). His brown bangs, no longer held back by his hat, fell into his eyes. His face was slightly pink from his earlier scrubbing, and he was trying to get excess moisture out of his brown hair.

'If he looks like that… WHY DOES HE WEAR FACE PAINT?'

'Hmm, probably to ward off fangirls. I told you he was cute.'

'…Fine, so you were right.'

'Kami, he looks so hot right now… watcha gonna do?'

Kankuro looked up, his bangs flopping wetly into his face when he felt eyes on him. He saw Neji looking at him with a strange expression on his face… He cocked his head to the side slightly.

'What's wrong with him?'

Neji's chest felt oddly tight. His breathing was getting a little quicker, and he felt himself drawing nearer to the boy in front of him, getting closer, closer…

'Fuck these hormones!'

Lips met lips. One pair of eyes closed while another's widened with shock. The pressure became harder, one boy knowing what he wanted while the other was unable to respond. One boy thrust a bag into the other's hands and finally withdrew. Neji licked his lips slowly, then started to walk away. He turned around with a small smile.

"It's yours."

Then he left.

Dazedly, Kankuro opened the bag and looked in. It was a crow plushie.

'Oh god… fuck, what the hell?'

He had to think hard to keep himself from hyperventilating.

'He just… Neji just… kissed me. Wait, when did I start calling him Neji? Why… shit, this is confusing! Why did he… why… did I let him?'

Then he ran. He ran all the way to the Yadoya, went to his room, shut the door, and collapsed on his bed. He still carried the crow plushie.

"Shit!"

He buried his face in the pillow and forced himself to think.

'Okay, so I gave him the plushie I bought for him… then he spaced out… then a bucket of water fell from the sky… and I was trying to get it out of my face and when I looked up… he kissed me.'

A sudden thought struck Kankuro and he looked in his mirror. Paint? Gone. Hat? Also gone.

'Kami… don't tell me he thinks that I'm attractive!'

He looked at the crow plushie.

'What did he say? He said, 'It's yours.' Was he talking about this… or something else?'

Frustrated, Kankuro decided to try to talk to Neji later.

'I want to ask him… why?'

Unconsciously, he touched his lips where Neji's had been minutes earlier. Sure it wasn't like it was his first kiss ever, but it was his first kiss from a boy. The thing was… it was kinda nice. Not like he responded, but he didn't push him away either… Or prevent him from doing it in the first place.

'It's not like he was hiding his intention. kami-sama. If worse comes to worse, I might have to go to Temari for advice…'

Perish the thought.


Meanwhile a certain Hyuuga was walking around trying to find his cousin and her friend.

'Why didn't I do that earlier?'

'Cause you didn't know that he looked good under all that paint. Also, he's a pretty decent guy. Helped us out, you know? First from the fangirls then from our feelings.'

'…Fuck, I think I do like him.'

'Told ya so. So what are you going to do about it?'

'Wait for him to approach me and figure it out from there.'

'Hey, maybe you could ask Hinata's friend for advice. She seems to know about this stuff.'

'…Maybe.'

TBC

Yay! Done! Glad I got that out. Once again thanks to reviewers, you got your wish! More KakaIru next chapter, and I want some T.C.Hina also. Who can guess the person behind the whole bucket thing? See you next chapter!

Kakashi: what about me and 'Ruka?

Tina-chan: yes yes, don't worry I haven't forgotten you! Next chappie, kay?

Kakashi: Maa, you sure beat around the bush don't you? So slow…

Tina-chan: -anger mark- Kakashi…

Kakashi: Too wimpy to write a lemon, whether yaoi or yuri… can't find time to update other story…

Naruto: um, Kakashi-sensei? I would shut up if I were you.

-Both look at seething authoress-

Kakashi: What? I was just telling the truth…

Tina-chan: -clenches fist- THAT'S IT!

Naruto: Kakashi-sensei, I think u made her mad…

Tina-chan: -eerie smile- Remember the author notes for chapters 5 and 13?

Kakashi: -backs away slowly- Um, no?

Tina-chan: Well too bad… Cause I think I'm going to make good on my threat!

Itachi: -smirk-

Kakashi: …You wouldn't.

Tina-chan: Or would I?

Please review. It helps feed the soul. (and saves the souls of others.)