Café

Neji found himself looking forward to the promise of a date next Friday. Even if it were with Itachi, it was something to do other than sit at home, sullenly trying to enjoy the entertainment at that night's banquet and make small talk with whatever diplomats the Hyuuga clan had to dinner. He went about his usual daytime business with much more vigor; his teammates had commented on it, and even the Hokage had noticed it.

"You're in much better spirits lately, Hyuuga Neji," the Godaime said as he collected his pay from a mission. "You wouldn't happen to have found—"

"No," he said suddenly. "No girlfriend."

"I see." Hazel eyes, wise with years that did not fit with the young face, "Not a girl, then?" She laughed when Neji sputtered, embarrassed. "Don't mind me, Neji-kun," she said. "I'm an old lady who needs a little amusement in her life."

"I-I understand, Hokage-sama," he replied stiffly.

"I'll have your next mission to you in a few days," The Hokage said. "In the meantime, Neji, enjoy yourself."

Feeling very flustered, Neji left with his pay and made his way back to the main thoroughfare. The Hyuuga compound was fairly close to the Hokage tower, but he had to go through the main business district of Konoha. There was a café he rather liked on the way home, and with the weight of his payoff in his pocket, Neji walked in. "Good morning, Nina-san!"

"Good morning, Neji-san!" the head waitress replied. "Your usual?"

"Please," he replied, taking a seat at the counter. Slipping into thought, Neji traced the dried cup-rings on the wood with a delicate finger. Why me? He thought. Why do I always attract strange people?

"Penny for your thoughts, Hyuuga?"

Startled, Neji realized that he now had someone sitting next to him, and that someone was the last person he wanted to see right now. "Good morning, Uchiha Itachi-san."

"No need to be so formal." Itachi put his order into the waitress and looked over again. "You seem unsettled."

"I'm not," Neji said with a huff.

"You're a terrible liar, Neji-san."

"I'm not flustered, Itachi-san."

"Your body language speaks otherwise," Itachi said in that calm voice of his. Reaching over, he ran a hand across Neji's shoulders, feeling the muscles standing out against his palm. "Your shoulders are tense, Neji-san. That's usually a sign there's something bothering you. Is it me?"

"You're not bothering me, Itachi-san."

"Good. I saw you go in and was wondering what you'd like to do this Friday. I had a few ideas…"

It actually wasn't that bad, Neji thought as he left the café with Itachi some hours later, a smile back on his face.

And he was really looking forward to Friday.