Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Sorry for the lateness! I wanted to get this out every two weeks and it's a little longer than that. I also wanted to get this out on Guy Fawkes Day yesterday but sadly I was late.

And I also got 'exiled' again so I can feel for poor Shikamaru, I really can. He has it worse than I do though, lol. Anyways, thanks to all my reviewers! Much appreciated!

P.S. I don't know how to play shogi so the game in this chapter is based off of the rules of chess, similar yet different. And I have no beta so if there are mistakes, I apologize sincerely. Thanks!

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

Enjoy.

Chapter Three: The Game

Silence.

Black eyes stared at white ones, slightly squinted, eyebrows furrowed.

The white eyes stared right back, no trace of emotion to be found within them, patiently waiting.

A small nod of the head by the younger of the two bodies, to which both pairs of eyes belonged, motioned for the other to move first.

And so it began.

The first piece was moved, a pawn to the center of the board.

Shikamaru let out a small laugh. "Are you sure you want to do this? There's still time to back out."

Neji narrowed his eyes, "I was about to ask you the same question since you are obviously going to be the one to sleep cramped and uncomfortable on the couch."

"Your eyes can't see the future as much as you'd like to think they can. You better stop now so you can actually focus. You're going to need it since you promised me a good game." Shika moved his first piece, leaned back and watched intently, not the game that was just getting started on the board in front of him, but his opponent.

All he received was a formidable glare. The Hyuuga stared at him and scowled before he too, made his move. (That really insinuates something, doesn't it?)

Shikamaru braced his fingers together and thought for a moment. He did not take long, a minute or two, before bringing out his knight.

He raised his eyebrows at Neji's reaction to this, as the other nin stared directly at him while moving his own queen out in the open and into the battlefield.

'That's suicidal. What the hell is Hyuuga thinking? He's not even giving himself any time to think about a strategy!' Shika thought to himself, perplexed to the nth degree. Shika had played shogi thousands of times before but he's never had a partner who had complete disregard for common sense strategic moves.

Neji allowed himself a slight smirk as he saw Shikamaru debating with himself. He knew exactly what the younger man was thinking, 'He thinks I'm crazy for doing this. Heh. Well, if he's as smart as he thinks he is, despite the laziness, then he'll figure it out. I just have to keep hiding the rest.'

'Okay, this is weird. Too weird. Neji isn't a reckless shinobi, not like Naruto. He knows how to look at all sides of the situation before acting on something. But here he's not doing that. Unless…oh that sneaky bastard.' Shika thought before allowing himself to smile which Neji saw as he was still staring at him quietly with his own thoughts.

'Oh shit. He knows something. He's figured it out. Damn, I'll have to go along with it still, try to confuse him. Why did I get myself into this?' Neji asked himself.

The board lay quiet for awhile as Shikamaru had his eyes closed, concentrating. At this, Neji was getting slightly irritated because he knew that the other knew too. He was getting so worked up that over the fact that his plan was foiled he was beginning to grind his teeth.

Suddenly, Shikamaru opened his eyes and didn't portray any emotions on his face as he moved his next piece.

Neji's eyes widened. The pawn didn't capture his own bishop which he so blatantly left open. Either Shikamaru was developing a highly strategic plan to conquer Neji's game through subtle advances or he hadn't realized the Hyuuga's own highly risky plan. Maybe Neji still had a chance.

Yeah...right.

Shikamaru let his eyes wander across the board, in the back of his mind thinking out all the possible strategies to overtake the game while in the front of his mind he still contemplated Neji's actions. He knew the other nin wanted to throw him off his guard and he almost succeeded. But only 'almost.' He watched as Neji took some time deliberating his move, but still he moved his piece quickly. Shikamaru was pleased with himself as now he knew that he had Neji right where he wanted him. The game would go not go easy as now it was a real challenge between the two but it would be interesting and he liked that. A boring game is never fun, and with a game like this he could use it to get Neji riled up and pay him back for being such a prick.

"Tch, tch. Neji,' Shika said while moving his next piece which aptly took Neji's knight, "I thought you knew how to play this game? You're the genius here, at least the more active of the two of us. I'm surprised you're doing this badly."

White eyes widened a little more. "You better watch what you say Nara. If we weren't playing this ridiculous game you would find yourself on the couch at this moment." He gritted his teeth and moved.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say Hyuuga," Shika said leaning back in the chair and stretching, "This wasn't the kind of game I was expecting. Not from you at least."

It was Neji's turn to look inquisitive. "And why do you say that?" He asked as he looked at Shikamaru as he set down his latest piece.

"Eh," He moved his knight within enemy territory, "With the way this game's been going I'd think I was playing Naruto or Kiba. Your moves have been sloppy, there is no visible strategy, none that I can see at least, and you aren't focused. I think something's gotten under the skin of the stoic Hyuuga prodigy, if you can still call yourself that after this game." Needless to say, Neji was shooting an icy stare at Shikamaru that would have paralyzed any number of chuunin or genin.

The death grip his left hand had on the table did not go unnoticed either and Shika knew he best tread carefully unless he wanted to get impaled by a kunai. But…it was so much more fun this way. He actually wanted to DO something instead of just lazing around. And getting on the nerves of Neji was fun.

Shikamaru leaned forward on the table and placed his knight within striking distance. "I still say something has gotten under your skin. Tell me if I'm wrong. I'd love to hear it." He said, placing his elbows on the table, hooking his hands together and resting his chin on them and smiled.

"Fine. You're wrong. Now shut up."

"Ahh, but you can't get out of it that easy. You're not fooling anyone. The minute I walked in here…no, the minute you opened the door I knew there was something up with you. So, what's up?"

Neji felt the heat rising to his cheeks. 'He knows. That damned lazy nin knows. Shit, now what? Denial. Don't let him get ahead of you. No matter what.' He just stared back and didn't say a word. This would have quelled Shikamaru for a while had Neji not looked distinctly uncomfortable at the situation which basically answered Shika's question that something was bothering him.

"Oh, come on Neji. Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. If you don't want to tell me that's fine. I understand," Shika said and he saw Neji relax the tension in his shoulders at that prospect, "But I think I know what it is anyway."

The tension returned and Neji sat up as rigid as a statue.

"I was wondering why you blushed when I asked if you had a girl over but it's nothing to be ashamed of." Neji quirked his head to the side slightly. "Everyone goes through this, though I think you're going through it a little later than most but who can say? So, you've got a crush on some girl and being the…stoic person that you are you've got no idea how to express said affection. I'm hoping this isn't your first venture in these waters?" he asked.

"No." He said curtly while thinking, 'At least he doesn't know everything. Maybe I can use what he says to help me out.'

"Well, I should hope so. You're older than me and I would think you've had some experience."

Neji coughed, clearing his throat saying, "And what exactly would you suggest I do to get her attention?" He should his head, not quite believing he was actually asking this. Fate was a cruel mistress indeed.

Shikamaru shrugged. "The hell if I know."

"What?" Neji deadpanned. "You have got to be kidding me! You go through all this explanation saying it's not this bad and telling me to get over myself and do something and you've got no answer?!" By this point Neji again grabbed the edge of the table and his eyes had widened considerably while face flushed for the first time that day not out of embarrassment which Shikamaru noted was somewhat becoming of him.

He leaned back. "Look Neji, I can only offer you some advice, which I doubt you'll take anyway but it's the best I can do. I don't know what your situation, and seeing the way you're acting right now I don't know if I want to know." Neji looked crestfallen for a moment but put his reserve back up the next instance. This didn't go unnoticed by Shikamaru.

"All I can tell you is to get off your high horse and do something about it. If you like her a lot and you're willing to get angry over your inability to express your feelings, which I can see you having trouble with in the first place, then just get up the courage to ask her out. You're a damn shinobi for kami's sake! You've been in worse situations than this! Though I can see how this is disconcerting. Women are so troublesome. And so is this whole thing. Why do I have to be the guidance counselor too?" Shika asked himself. "Either way, just do something. Even if it's a small something. It won't be that bad. I promise. Now make your move."

Neji stared at him. 'He can't be serious. Can he?' He stilled, perplexed for the moment before Shika said, "It's your turn. Move your piece."

'Ohh…I thought…damn it! What is going on?!' Neji asked, shaking his head.

Throughout this exchange between the two they had been moving their pieces around the board but hadn't been paying their full attention. Hence why when Neji looked at the board he found…

"I can't."

"What? Just move your next piece and let's finish this game so we can see who sleeps where."

Neji glared. Again. "Like I said Nara, I can't. Look at the board."

Shikamaru, whose eyes had been closed at the moment trying to get in a quick doze between moves opened them and looked.

All the pieces on the board were completely immovable from their positions according to the rules.

"A stalemate?" He asked the Hyuuga.

Neji nodded. "Now what?"

Shika scratched the back of his head, "Eh? Well, neither of us won or lost so it's a tie. I guess that means we share the bed." He smirked in victory.

'It shouldn't be too troublesome. Better than the couch at least.'

"Huh? You can't be serious."

"Believe me. When it comes to sleeping, and sleeping comfortably, I'm complete serious and not at all lazy. It's the best solution according to rules and the results we were aiming for. Now, by all means we can play again for it but then you risk losing the bed while you still have it." He crossed his arms and looked at Neji, awaiting an answer.

"Fine. We'll share. If you snore though, you're getting the couch." Neji said with something betraying his voice, but again Shikamaru was unable to identify it.

"No, I don't snore. And I don't want the couch. I'm not missing the chance to sleep in a bed either." He got up from the table, walked around to Neji's side and clapped him on the back. "It was a good game Neji. Very interesting. I've never tied before. Something to think about though, I don't plan on tying again." With that he left the room and went into the kitchen.

Neji watched after him, looked at the shogi board and then towards his own room.

'Tch. What have I gotten myself into?' He thought to himself.

Hope you enjoyed that chapter! It was longer this time! Over two-thousand words!

Here's an odd fact just because. I listened mostly to the Card Captor Sakura (never seen it) song "Groovy" and the "Lost" podcast while writing this. I don't know if there are any influences from them in it or not. The next chapter shouldn't take too long, maybe another two weeks or so.

See ya!