All right! Sorry about the looong wait. I'm on vacation and haven't had time for the computer. I felt bad; however, and I snuck on while my friend was reading! I will try and make up for my unfaithful updating by updating once more either tomorrow or the day after! Then I should be all caught up with the weeks I missed. I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Shikamaru sat quietly at the kitchen table with a cup of steaming coffee in his hands. "Troublesome," he sighed as he inhaled the caffeinated fumes. The coffee was too hot to drink just yet, and he found it too troublesome to blow on it.

He was awake… and thinking. At 5:15 in the morning. Unfortunately, a certain someone didn't realize that normal people slept past 5:00 in the morning… And now, he had to orchestrate the morning flawlessly, or else he might have to deal with a rather upset supervisor at work. It was troublesome being pulled into his employer's personal affairs, but it was probably for the best. He was a genius after all, and he had connections. By his calculations, he was 86 percent more likely to succeed with the plan than his employer. And he really didn't have a choice… Neji had already contacted Temari, and whether she knew the reasons behind Neji's… 'plan' or not, she would definitely be adamant about participating.

He glanced at the clock; 5:27. Damn. Troublesome, Hyuuga; even insane people who wake up early- like Neji- don't wake up before-

Shikamaru glanced up as the kitchen door swung open to reveal bright red hair and attentive green eyes.

…Insomniacs don't count.

"I smelled coffee," supplied Gaara at Shikamaru's inquisitive look. He moved silently and robotically to the pot of coffee before pouring himself a cup. Shikamaru watched him move with a calculating stare. Getting Gaara in on the plan was the overall goal; however, being Temari's husband made him Gaara's least favorite person. Therefore, he had to do this in a roundabout way, but for that he needed Naruto. Hence, his 'connections'.

Gaara slid into the seat across from Shikamaru without a word. Gaara seemed somewhat curious –or suspicious, Shikamaru wasn't sure- about Shikamaru being awake; however, he didn't say anything. Both sat in the dark kitchen in silence. It wasn't particularly awkward. Gaara and Shikamaru were both naturally silent people. Gradually; however, Shikamaru began to grow weary and decided to relocate to the living room sofa before he fell asleep, mulling over his cup of coffee.

It wasn't long before he fell asleep. After all, the couch had a pillow.

He was awakened by the sound of his phone vibrating on the coffee table. Figures, even on silent a phone could be troublesome. Without sitting up or opening his eyes he grabbed his phone and flipped it open. "What?"

"So? Did you do it or not?"

Shikamaru groaned immediately. He really should consider looking at the caller ID. He sat up slowly, knowing that he wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. "You called me at five in the morning, Neji." He didn't bother with honorifics, having known the Hyuuga since high school kept him from doing so unless they were in an official setting.

"And?"

"Normal people aren't awake at five in the morning Neji, hell, I didn't even think you woke up that early," complained Shikamaru.

"He's insomniac," Neji spoke as if this reason explained everything.

Shikamaru raised a surprised eyebrow, wondering how Neji knew such personal information.

"Well, that is very true," he reasoned, "However, I'm not going to get him to agree to it by asking directly. And Naruto doesn't wake up before ten, at least."

"I don't do what now?" asked a voice from the kitchen doorway.

Shikamaru glanced over his shoulder to see a rather cheerful Naruto with a cup of coffee in his hands. "… It's 11 o'clock now." Neji's voice said over the phone.

Shikamaru sighed, "I'm on it," and hung up before Neji could say anything else.

"What's up Shikamaru?" Naruto walked over to join him on the couch.

"Well…" Shikamaru tried to figure out how best to go about this, "I have a favor to ask, actually." Naruto was always a sucker for helping out a friend.

"Okay," smiled Naruto, "Shoot."

"One of my bosses decided to have a small get together tonight at a club. A few people from work, but not really a work setting. Unfortunately, before I could say no, they told Temari about it, and you know she loves to dance." Shikamaru was careful not to mention who was going to be there. If it got around that Neji would be there, Gaara would say no. Also, there was a chance Neji would invite Sasuke, and if Naruto was following his advice, he'd be avoiding him. "But it's going to be a drag because I hate them all. We are allowed to bring a few friends if we want though, so I thought maybe you and Gaara could come?"

Naruto froze and looked at Shikamaru as if he'd grown a second head. "You want Gaara to come?"

Shit. He probably should have realized that would sound suspicious. "Actually, no, I was just going to invite you, but I figure since we are going back home in a few days, maybe you were planning to spend time with Gaara. This way we'd both be happy. You get to be with Gaara, and I have someone to make tonight less of a drag." Shikamaru spoke as persuasively as possible while still trying to sound lazy and not suspicious.

"Um," Naruto rubbed the back of his head with his hand, making his hair even messier, "I guess it's okay." He shrugged. "I mean, I'll have to convince Gaara to go, but I'll bribe him with some cookies and the puppy dog face." He smiled widely at the thought.

"Thanks, … and maybe, don't tell him it's for my work," added Shikamaru, "He doesn't like doing me favors. Just tell him Temari is dragging you and me to a club and you want him to come with."

"Sounds doable," agreed Naruto.

Shikamaru merely nodded before reaching for his phone to tell Neji, but stopped. The man had woke him up at a god forsaken hour. He'd let him wait a bit before telling him the good news.

Neji sat calmly in his family's dojo meditating. He was calm. He was relaxed. He was one with his surroundings. He was… not waiting for one measly phone call like some love sick school girl.

Sighing, Neji untangled himself from his meditation pose before standing up and stalking to his bedroom. He paced back and forth without even realizing it. Wait… one the off chance that Shikamaru did pull this off –and there was a rather good chance- he needed people to go to the club with him so it at least looked like a gathering of people from work. But who to ask? He wasn't friends with anyone. Wait… he may not be friends but they were close enough. But then again, Sasuke would most likely refuse; however, if he went through Itachi, then Sasuke couldn't refuse.

Neji smirked at his second ingenious plan of the day before grabbing his phone and dialing his boss' number.

He picked up immediately.

"Uchiha Itachi speaking, what may I do for you?"

"Hello Itachi-san, it's Hyuuga Neji. I was wondering if you could help me out with something."

"Did something go wrong with a proposal?" asked Itachi, immediately serious.

"No, no, nothing to do with work. I was just hoping you could help me with a… personal problem," inquired Neji.

"Any why would I do that Neji-san?" Itachi's voice was laced with a subtle hint of sadism that made Neji shiver. "After all, we have never been particularly close. What do I get out of it?"

"You would get to possibly make you brother miserable," stated Neji.

The phone was silent for a few moments and he knew he had caught Itachi's interest.

"Continue," replied the dark, monotone voice that Neji was more accustomed to, but he could hear the slight intrigue.

"Well, I'm inviting a few people to go clubbing tonight and I was hoping you would come-,"

"Me? Why me?" the voice was seemed somewhat surprised.

"I was hoping you'd force your brother into it, and say it's some work related bonding crap or something like that. Of course if it's for work you would have to be there," explained Neji.

"Hn,"

"Before you decide, not only can you watch your brother's misery first hand, but you can bring your lover. He does love to dance doesn't he?" purred Neji.

"I suppose…"

"Oh, and I can't forget, your brother's latest conquest will be there as well, but don't tell him that." Neji was officially betraying whatever acquaintanceship that he had with Sasuke, but at the moment he didn't really care.

"Why would that interest me?" asked Itachi becoming somewhat bored.

Neji smirked, "This one happens to be playing hard to get, and I believe you know him. He's Tobi's fighting sensei."

"… this is beginning to sound somewhat interesting, should I bring some others from work? I'm assuming if it were truly a work related meeting, that the three of us wouldn't be the only ones going?"

Neji smirked, Itachi was truly a devil in disguise… actually, forget the disguise, he was simply a devil. "Sounds like a plan, but I've already invited Shikamaru, he's the one bringing Naruto."

"Of course," replied Itachi, "before I hang up Neji-san, what are you getting out of this? You can't be doing this just for the sake of making my brother miserable, or are you two not friends?"

Neji frowned, did he and Sasuke appear friendly to others?

"Well, let's just say… Naruto isn't the only person Shikamaru is bringing per my request."

"Hn… even more interesting. Name the time and place."

" Club Byakugan and nine."

"See you there."

"My thanks Itachi-san."

"Hn"

The phone clicked, signifying that Itachi had hung up. Neji couldn't help, but smile deviously. Now, all he had to do was find the perfect outfit and wait for Shikamaru's call.

Thanks for reading! R&R. With Love ~*~ DeviousDevil :)