Aww, kisses guys, all of you deserves gifts and hugs and teddy bears...yeah, teddy bears. I want to thank my brave reviewers, y'all got the PMs I'm sure.
Also all the not-so-brave, but you still warm my heart persons and authors who added my story to their favorites and alerts. It would be Awesome though if you guys reviewed.
But I want to thank my second reviewer, who was anonymous and still left no name...But if you are reading this right now, which I hope you are because you're so sweet and awesome, Thank you awfully much for your review and I hope you join fan fiction soon so I can tell you that personally...Onward!
Pairings: I think you know the pairings by now, (even though its just one chapter so far) but there is a new one in play. Namely Itachixdeidara, requested by KyouyaxCloud so they are officially a couple to look out for now if you like them also. Not in this chapter, but chapters to come.
Again...sorry about the excessive NejixShika in the first chapter. No one seems to be complaining, but it was mentioned in almost every review, so I just want to say this is a Sasunaru fic, but the other pairings are getting equal attention from now on too.
Warning: Also, fluff vomit in this chapter. You'll see what I mean...
Disclaimer: I own this story just as much as I can conjure up water and spontaneously combust.
P.S. It's still the same day in the story. (Wednesday, just so you know.)
P.P.S. GOD THIS CHAPTER IS A MONSTER! (And that's an understatement)
Under a large oak tree, by the manmade lake on the campus, sat five persons enjoying their free period.
Sakura, who was sitting with her feet to the side in a girlish twist, Naruto, who had taken to sitting against the tree and gazing out into the lake, Lee, who sat cross legged with his back at straight as a plank, Kiba, well he was more on the oak tree, swinging from a low branch and Shikamaru was on his back cloud gazing.
"So what's the deal with the whole thing at lunch?" Sakura questioned.
They all simultaneously groaned.
"You saw that?" Shikamaru hid his face.
"Every one saw!" Sakura replied.
"And they still haven't gotten over it yet..."
Everyone glanced questionly up at Kiba.
He made a gesture for them to look around, "See for yourself."
They looked around and sure enough more than half of the small groups around the large grounds were sending obvious glances their way.
"Well they don't have to be so upfront about it." Naruto complained.
"I apologize for them. Nothing really outstanding ever happens at this school. Except for someone's family going broke, or their stock to crash or something like that..." Sakura explained.
The four guys glanced at each other.
"You guys are so weird." Naruto mumbled.
"Yeah, well, you guys are kinda the centre of attention now, but the fact that hardly anyone likes you just increased tenfold." Sakura smiled apologetically.
"Eh?" Naruto said.
"Why?" Lee asked the attractive girl. "We didn't do anything to upset them, so why are they so angry at us?"
"Well before..." Sakura started, "It was just because you didn't fit in. But now, it seems that you guys have gotten HK's Four's attention."
They glanced questionly at her.
Sakura sighed. "Those four guys, the group with the one you dumped your lunch on." She gestured at Shikamaru.
He turned red and mumbled, "No one's ever going to forget that are they..."
"Nope..." she grinned, "So anyways," she continued then paused, "What was I saying?"
"Something about a group of four..." Lee tried.
"Yeah! So... There's Sasuke-"
"Hey that's the guy you were going on and on about!" Naruto cried.
Sakura sent him a glare that withered the plants behind him.
"Anyways...yeah, so there's Sasuke, Shino, Neji and Gaara. Sasuke's the-"
"Yeah, yeah, he ain't so great, how do we tell the difference between all of them." Naruto said, a little put out by the girls interest in this person.
Sakura resisted the urge to plunder him into a tree and instead exhaled shakily. It just wouldn't do for inner Sakura to get out of control by a simple blond idiot.
Lee saw her exhale and slapped a hand over Naruto's mouth.
"Um, Naruto never knows the right thing to say...Please continue Sakura-chan."
She smiled lightly at Lee.
He fell in love just a bit more.
Then she glowered at Naruto, "If you had listened, you would have noticed I was getting to that." She huffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder, then paused and seemed to contemplate something for a minute. "Okay I'll tell you guys all about them, but you have to come closer."
When they were all seated in a small circle formation, Sakura asked:
"So do guys want the long story short, Cliff notes version, or Essay style?"
"Uh, Cliff Notes version?" Lee tried.
Sakura pulled out a folder from behind her.
The four guys looked at her astonished, 'Where'd that come from.' Their expression screamed.
Sakura looked at all their faces. "Are you serious, my messenger bag's right here."
Then true to her word, she pulled a messenger bag from behind her.
The four males stared again, 'Where are you getting those things from!'
She sighed, exasperated by their expressions alone.
"This lovelies, is the CAR folder."
"C-A-R? Car?" questioned Shikamaru.
"Yep, Character Analysis and Recording."
"Why do you need that?" Lee asked.
She opened the folder in the middle of the circle. Pages with writing and pictures were seen.
"My mom always told me to know the people around me. We're the generation set to take over some of the world's biggest businesses. It helps to know who to trust in the future."
She snatched one of the pictures and her voice took on a legal tone, like they were taking about an assassin instead of four male teenagers.
"First is Sasuke, Last name Uchiha-"
Naruto almost started at the guy who'd practically insulted him in the halls, but everyone, like they could sense it glared at him with laser eyes beforehand.
Naruto kept quiet.
"He's single, smexy and utterly gorgeous. His parents died when he was like eleven and he and his big brother lived together for a year before his now guardian, and long time family friend Kakashi Hatake became like an older brother, father-ish figure in his life." She held up another picture of a man with silver hair that seemed to be standing up with some sort of material over his face, standing with Sasuke and another person who looked like an older version of him without the odd hairstyle.
"So he didn't have to grow up way too fast to help the businesses, and Itachi got the chance to enjoy college. Because Mr. Hatake is like a whiz kid. He's an insanely rich and eccentric whiz, but a whiz none the less, and he's so young." She squealed.
They looked at her, more than slightly disturbed.
"But other than that, Sasuke dad and mom left all their inheritance to the two brothers. Their dad's side of the family was into the hotel industry, and they have a monopoly over the best resorts and spas in the world. While their mom come from really old money and her family owned, the best apartment complexes in all the big and small cities, with the best views and the spots what everyone wants in the background for their Facebook pictures. Trust me, I know. He's into swimming, and is like a fish when he's in the water. And did I mention, he's single, smexy and utterly gorgeous?"
They all stared at her.
"Tough crowd." She mumbled. She put Shino's picture on top. "Okay...This is Shino, last name Aburame. Aristocratic features, more than noticeably cute, drool worthy biceps. No one knows what color his eyes are. I called dibs on blue in the betting pool. He's an Archery champ, and I heard from a shy little birdie that he practices shirtless with his trainers then lifts weights, hence the biceps. His entire family puts the eco in...eco. But their not really eco, their more like... bug-o.
His Dad dedicated an entire compound to preserving and boosting back up the population of endangered insects. But other than that, his dad is a Tech. whiz. His company makes prototypes for those big companies and he gets most of the profit if they sell, which they always do. So he has one of the biggest Technology companies on this side of the world. His mom though is actually richer than his dad, which is kinda impossible, but she inherited her grandfathers drilling company."
"Drilling?" Kiba inquired, "Like oil."
"Precisely," she confirmed. "He's an only child, so he's utterly spoiled to the limit. He doesn't act like it though..." she drifted off.
"Anyways," she held up Gaara's picture. "Gaara, last name Sabaku. He's a playboy extraordinaire and it's no secret that he's the most mischievous one out of them all. He actually stole Tsunade-sama's sake once. He's a little devil with an angels face and his body should be a sin. He's also kinda the little gangster of the group, He likes to stir things up. The thing is he's just a little OTT sometimes.
He the one with the kanji on his forehead, and his hair kinda makes him the brightest one of the group, so he's the easiest one to recognize. He's the youngest of three, a brother and sister. His father was killed about ten years ago."
"What about his mother?" Lee asked.
"She died during child birth." She explained.
"Oh."
"His dad's company makes planes, and plane parts. He also has shares in Airlines all over. His mom side of family is probably where he gets the playful side from. They passed down a whole chain of night clubs to them."
"So he lives with his brother and sister?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, His sister's a part-time model while his brother juggles the night-club scene and the Airlines."
"That's kinda cool." Naruto mumbled.
"And last but by no means least, is Neji, last name Hyuuga. The person who Shika so elegantly dumped your lunches on." She teased.
Shikamaru grunted.
"He's tall, usually pale, but his recent tan is delicious. He does gymnastics so he had both upper and lower body strength. Can, you say biceps? He lives with his father (1) and has a cousin who goes here, Hinata Hyuuga. She's actually supposed to be the heir for her father's business actually, but if you've met Hinata you'd realize that she in no way can say no to anyone, much less handle entire businesses. She probably die from panicking.
So anyways, Neji's the heir for both his father and uncle. Neji's father company makes car parts and cars for all those big shot companies and their big shot employees. The really fast cars that rich guys get the thrill from and cars for the race track. And his uncle has one of those five-star world-wide chains of restaurants, with the best chefs and fancy valet parking."
"And that's it. Although I don't know everything them, just a slight more than the general public." She concluded. "Anyone else you wanna find out about?"
"No I don't think..." Lee started.
"What about that guy." Kiba said.
"What guy?" Naruto questioned.
"The one at lunch, who made Shika spill our lunch."
"Ahh," Sakura mumbled, and rifled around, "Keitaro Ogawa, it seems he wasn't born into luxury. Seemingly, some years ago his father found a large, abandoned diamond mine on his grandfather's property. So he basically struck gold, in a manner of speaking. They got a hefty amount of cash for it. Enough to keep them comfortable for a good quarter a century. He's kinda pompous though, although there's nothing to be pompous about. He's been able to convince some people that he's related to royalty. I haven't got much more on him, except that apparently he's a good singer and like that snot nose girl said a good fighter."
"May I inquire why you felt obligated to tell us all that, minus what Kiba asked?"
Sakura smiled, getting up, "I felt obligated, because, those guys, no matter how the girls throw themselves at them, have never really taken an interest or defended anyone before; Which means you guys are in for one hell of a ride. And besides, I like you guys. There something about you that's just too cute. You know what, walk with me."
The guys froze, and then scrambled to pick up their stuff at her sudden request.
Sakura walked in the middle, to the right of Lee and Naruto and the left of Kiba and Shikamaru.
"Where are we going exactly?" Shika questioned.
"To the front of the school." She explained, "My dad's picking me up."
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, it's barely after lunch, school won't be over for another two hours." Kiba said.
"We have to get on our flight to Mom's fashion show."
"Fashion show?"
"Yeah, my mom's a designer. Tomorrow's the debut for her summer collection in Milan. She's very excited. So dad and I are going for moral support."
By this time, they were going around the corner to the front of the school.
"That must be really cool to have a mom as a fashion designer." Kiba mused.
"Yeah, and you can go anywhere she is and meet lots of famous people." Naruto smiled.
"Yeah, but always traveling, so I don't see her much. Look on the bright side though, I'll never run out of the top of the line trend clothes."
They grinned then stopped at the stairs of the school.
Sakura glanced at her watched, "He'll be here any second...Oh there he is!"
They looked up and gaped as a black limousine stopped in front of the stairs.
She turned to them smiling, "Well that's dad, so I'll see you guys."
She turned back to them just as the chauffeur opened the door. "Oh and I'm having a party on Saturday when I get back." She grinned, "Say you'll be there."
Kiba shrugged and answered for them, "Sure!"
She smiled and waved, slipping into the limo.
As soon as the car disappeared Shikamaru cursed and shouted, "Idiot you shouldn't have told her yes!"
"Why?" Kiba asked sheepishly.
"We don't know where she lives!"
"Oh."
Naruto was calmly walking to the parking lot; he was going to sit on one of the picnic benches with the grass around it and wait for Iruka to finish up whatever he was doing; other wise he'd have to wait for Lee to finish up his Tai Chi lessons with his idol, before he could get a ride. The wait was shorter, but he would only take Mr. Rocks ride as a last resort. The man was too crabby to be normal. Shikamaru had gotten a ride with Kiba's sister to his after-school job but, Kiba lived in the opposite direction of himself. So that ride was out.
Walking slowly, he glanced around and once again thought that he didn't think he'd get used to the range of high-class cars there. It was like a car fashion show and all the cars were on par with the other, yet none of them were the same, so you couldn't possibly choose between them.
Maybe, if they all saved up, the four of them could get a car so they wouldn't have to rely on their guardians and parents to pick them up. But he couldn't drive.
Shikamaru would probably fall asleep at the wheel.
Kiba would be too reckless, besides, he had a dog that he brought everywhere except school. Wet dog smell and possible urine marks wouldn't be very attractive.
Lee could probably learn if he put his mind to it.
He'd have to discuss it with them and the type of car, and the deals they could get...
So he had been walking and thinking, and hadn't noticed the car coming his way, and just seconds after he saw some unknown girl's face contort into a horrified look, and heard a car horn beeping him out of the way, some one grabbed him around the waist, and swept him off his feet to safety just before he saw the car sweep over right where he was walking before.
The car sped off, not even stopping for a minute to see if he'd incapacitated anyone.
The arms around him tightened and a voice whispered in his ear
"Moron, who doesn't look around to see if any cars are coming towards them, it's a car park for heavens sake, Are you okay idiot?"
Naruto gaped, and turned to give this person a piece of his mind, savior or not, and stumbled when he looked into this person's face.
Shaking his head, he kept his gaze on this person's neck. It was the Sasuke guy who Sakura kept talking about.
So instead of screaming: 'What did you say to me?' he squeaked a meek "Thank you." For saving his life and glanced around aimlessly.
"So...bye." He forced out after looking over himself to make sure, everything was intact, and looking back at Sasuke, who was still observing him.
He meandered on over to the benches, somewhat perplexed, but thankful that Sasuke had saved him.
His plan, was to take a nap to pass the time while waiting for Iruka, but his plans where deterred by Sasuke taking a seat beside him.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly as to why he was sitting beside him.
"Don't you have somewhere you need to be?" Naruto deadpanned.
"Not necessarily, no." Sasuke smirked.
Naruto fumed silently, for unknown reasons. Pretty boy or not, this guy needs to go.
"Well I was planning to take a nap before Iruka-sensei came. I'm really tired."
Sasuke looked at him with a bored expression.
Naruto cursed in his head. He swore to Iruka he wouldn't get in anymore fights, especially since he was the one that always got beat up. But this pretty boy looked like his skin had never been marred a day in his life. He could probably take him down easy.
"Is there any particular reason why you're glaring at me?" Sasuke inquired.
Naruto jumped, surprised, and knocked out of his thoughts.
"Just thinking." Naruto replied tersely.
"I mean, I know I'm gorgeous, but there's no need to stare." Sasuke grinned.
Naruto blew up and turned a nice tomato red. He jumped up screaming, "What the- what are you saying, that I'm looking at you b-b-b-because...!"
"Well you've successfully attracted the attention of half the school dobe. Wanna try again; I think there was an old couple in Germany who didn't hear you." Sasuke said calmly.
Naruto stopped and sat back down, turning a fierce scarlet when the people started laughing.
He didn't notice the movement beside him until Sasuke was so close, he was brushing against him.
He felt an arm wind around to the other side of him on the bench; successfully trapping him loosely for the time being.
He looked up to glare at the prick, but wasn't ready for the close proximity of his face.
"If it's any consolation, I'm not laughing...I actually think that little blush on your cheeks is rather cute." He ran his thumb over Naruto's left cheek, the back of his mind wanting to inquire about the three precise kitten-like whisker marks there which were an exact copy on his other cheek.
Naruto leaned back with widened eyes.
Then abruptly Sasuke sat upright and asked, "So what are you doing tomorrow?"
Naruto sat there stunned for a couple seconds before he said. "...Coming to school, the usual."
"Okay then, I'm guessing you do that on Friday's too. How about the weekend?"
"Uh, I think I want to go to Sakura-chan's party."
"You mean her monthly competition party? You were invited?"
"I guess, we didn't get like a formal invitation or a letter or something, but she asked us to come, soo..." he peered at Sasuke. "Were you invited?"
"Yes, but I don't usually go to her things, it's an excuse for her to bombard me openly. But this time, I might just have a reason for going..." he trailed off.
"Really?"
"Yes...Do you have a date?"
"No." Answered the oblivious Naruto.
"Then how would you like to come with me?"
Naruto looked at Sasuke blankly, "Why would I want to go with you huh you egotistical self-center maniac!"
Sasuke grinned, not at all disturbed by Naruto's shouting.
"Because you like me, you wanna marry me..."
"What are you, five! Honestly!"
To say Sasuke was having fun teasing the little blond was an understatement. This was too good to be true; he had never teased someone like this unless it was one of his friends who knew he was joking. Everyone else just took as a welcome sign that said 'Feel free to glomp me.' He laughed at the blond's frustrated expression.
Naruto tried to glare, he really did, but who knew the bastard could actually laugh like that.
He was caught up in the other worldly shine and how Sasuke's face lit up just as much as the rest of the persons left in the parking lot.
He couldn't help it when his mouth dropped and his body froze.
Then a blush dusted over his cheeks when Sasuke grinned at him. The ether worldly glow was still there.
"I...um." he spied Iruka coming down the steps of the building and jumped up.
Saved by the teacher. "I, gotta go." He told Sasuke. "Bye." he waved and ran off, glomping Iruka and shouting about ramen.
"For now dobe, just for now."
Shikamaru was late for work.
He hadn't meant to be. But the bumper-to-bumper traffic had him jumping out of Kiba's sister's car and running for his life when he realized that in five minutes he was going to be late.
So that was his reason for jumping over persons dogs and using a lady as leverage to go around a corner until he finally arrived at the restaurant he worked at.
Busting through the back door, he ignored the knowing looks and the shouts of 'You're late!' in the steaming hot kitchen as he clocked in, gasping for his breath.
The second he dropped his bag pack and grabbed a pitcher and poured himself a glass of water, a girl named Ayako, the tall, leggy brunette manager who had been and still was slightly hateful of his since the first time he worked there, rounded on him and proceeded to take off his shirt and slip the restaurant green waiter uniform over his white wifebeater.
Before he could ask her what she was doing because he was supposed to be washing the dishes, not being the waiter, she answered his unsaid question.
"We're short on waiters and waitresses. Apparently Keiko quit at the last minute, Janet's mom broke her leg, Azami caught some kind of bug and is out cold and Ichiro is just...not here! And the dinner rush is coming in, and people are hungry, so..." she fastened the last button on his shirt and smoothened the collar, "you are gonna help get the orders from the people in the outside tables." She ended her speech by smiling thinly and pushed a notepad and a pen to his chest. "God luck."
"So troublesome..." he muttered, shoulders drooping as her went out the door to the dining areas.
He was making his way to an antsy looking man when a blonde blob grabbed his arm and steered him around the corner to a little group of three girls waiting for them.
"Uh," he glanced down at the girl, who was in the restaurants uniform. "What is it?"
She squealed and rushed over to her friends who squealed again with her until they all tried to calm each other down.
By this time Shikamaru was trying to inconspicuously back away from them.
But then one of the girls turned to him and explained why he was here instead of there.
"Okay, there's like this really cute guy at table twelve."
He started to glance around the corner but she turned his head back towards them.
"And I really don't want to embarrass myself in front of him."
Shikamaru readied a glare at her, would she really be asking him...
"Can you take his order for me...us, and then tell us what he's like" she gestured to her friends who giggled again.
Shikamaru sighed, exasperated. How troublesome.
'Please?" the girl pleaded, "Please, please, please, please, please!"
Seeing that her friends were about to join in, he sighed, "Table twelve?"
They all squealed,
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she hugged him.
Another girl grinned, "We owe you one."
He sighed and turned to go where he knew table twelve was.
He was just getting clear view of the table for the first time, and he promptly froze as he got a look at the person occupying the table.
Sitting there in all his glory, clad in a dark grey Armani suit that was definitely not the school uniform, his long, smooth dark hair over one shoulder, and looking every bit of the god he was made to be, was Neji Hyuuga, talking on his phone, and fiddling with the open menu in his hand.
The conversation with Sakura earlier flitted into his mind. "...his uncle has one of those five-star world-wide chains of restaurants, with the best chefs and fancy valet parking..."
'If his uncle owns restaurants, why would he come here...?' Shika thought, as he slowly made his way to the table.
Apprehension and slight trepidation dripping from every pore, Shikamaru breathed in deeply and muster up all the professionalism he could and approached the table.
Standing beside him, Neji didn't even look up from the menu, as he carried on talking.
"...only makes it better for the women."
"..."
"Hmm, that's true, but your judgment is something I've come to question."
A pause.
"That's true also, but that's just the four of us."
Another pause.
"If you're trying to convince me, you're doing a shitty job of it."
Shikamaru coughed slightly.
Neji looked up with annoyance in his eyes, which rapidly turned to recognition, and then to mischief that made his pearly eyes shine.
"Stop." He spoke into the phone, "I'll call you back later." And he promptly hung up on whomever.
"G-good Afternoon, are you ready to order?" Shikamaru rushed, cursing himself for that stumble at the start of his sentence.
"Yes I am. But it's seems the item I want is not on the list..." he grinned brazenly at Shika.
Shikamaru fidgeted and shifted onto his left leg.
"What else would you like then?"
"I donno, what would you suggest. I prefer something that you can't spill all that easily." Neji teased.
Shikamaru blushed and looked away.
Neji sighed almost dreamily while grinning at the same time, God he was cute.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Shikamaru looked back at him, "Um, Shikamaru, Shikamaru Nara."
Neji grinned, "And I'm sure Sakura told you my name."
Shikamaru glanced back at him, "How did you-"
"It's common knowledge that your group was sitting with the biggest gossip of the school during free period. She's somewhat obsessed with us...mostly Sasuke, but obsessed nonetheless. We're the reason she started that little folder of hers."
Shikamaru took in all that information, and simply said "Oh."
Neji smiled at the cute little expression on his face.
"You smile a lot." Shika blurted out, then his eyes widened at the accusing tone he used, "N-not that t-that's a bad thing, it, well...it's just...I don't think."
"Yes, I've been tending to do that a lot during the past few minutes." Neji smirked, "Do you have any idea why perhaps?"
Shika flushed, "Well I-"
Shikamaru was cut off with a cough from behind; he whirled around to find a slightly irked Ayako standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Shikamaru," she whispered almost harshly, "you've been standing here for almost ten minutes. I told you to get the customer's order, not have a conversation that is seemingly taking up time that you could use to be getting twelve other orders."
Shika turned red at her next comment.
"And I doubt he's a fairy, so stop trying."
Neji, slightly put off by how she was talking to Shikamaru and monopolizing his attention, scowled at the girl so harshly, she actually seemed taken aback.
He sneered and kept his fiery gaze at her, aristocracy dripping off every word, "I wasn't aware that an establishment such as this could be so uncouth as to interject whenever someone is obviously having a conversation with another person."
Ayako, slightly fearful, opened her mouth to say something, but Neji cut her off.
"Be careful how you speak to your employees, or you might find yourself in a bind you can't get out of someday."
Her mouth was hanging open slightly as she listened to him.
"And since you're here, you might as well get me a coffee. French pressed, black if you will."
She blinked at him. "We don't serve-"
"Well you better start." Neji complained.
Ayako scurried off before he glared at her.
During all this, Shikamaru was looking at Neji with slight awe for talking with his 'boss' like that.
Neji took one look at the gaping Shikamaru and chuckled.
"I always knew you'd make a wonderful flycatcher."
Shikamaru turned red for another countless time that day. "You-, she-...then you- , and-"
"Why do you work here? It isn't a bad place for the quick stop and the once in a while visit, but you could probably do so much better."
Shikamaru rubbed his neck awkwardly, "My dad...he knows the owner and... I've never really found another place that's willing to employ as quickly as he did with a good pay check for just a teenager."
Neji pondered for a second, and then smiled faintly.
"Tell you what," he stood up, towering a good two inches over Shikamaru, "Why don't you come with me tomorrow and we'll see if we can find a place for you at another restaurant?"
Shikamaru looked down "I don't know I-"
Neji ducked to look into Shikamaru's face, "Hey...what's so interesting about the ground?"
Shikamaru turned rosy red and looked up at Neji, he leaned back slightly but felt like he was being drawn back in by the close proximity of the perfect male's face.
"So how about it. I guarantee you almost any hours you want, but double the pay."
Shikamaru momentarily blanked out away from the world and into his thinking zone. It was an extremely tempting offer. And he knew that Neji's people really had that much money to double his pay with even glancing his way. Hell even if they tripled it, he'd probably be the most underpaid person who ever worked there. And that may include even the window washers.
He was drawn abruptly from his thinking place when Neji's face advanced on his, "Shikaaa, Shikaaa?"
"Okay, I'll um, come with you tomorrow?"
Neji grinned, not deterred by the obvious question sign in that statement. "Perfect." His face advanced slightly before he pulled back.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow then." And he placed a couple bills in Shikamaru's hand.
"Thank you're friend for the coffee." He grinned and sauntered off, answering his phone along the way. "Hello Shino."
Shika stared until he went around the corner and the spell over him was released.
"So how was your day at school?" Kiba's sister asked.
"It was cool. That was kinda funny though, the way Shika jumped out of the car. Did you see that lady's face?" He petted Akamaru, who his sister had brought with her.
"Yep! I never knew Shikamaru was a runner."
"Me either! He's really smart too. If he didn't act do lazy all the time, he could go places."
"I bet. But back to you now. Your day couldn't be just 'cool'. It's never just cool. I usually can't get you to stop talking about the idiotic things that Naruto did. And how Shikamaru's drool managed to get caught on Lee's clothes..."
"It was just a normal day..."
He sister looked disbelievingly at him, "Yeah, code for: Something really epic happened today, but I can't tell you, because you're you. It's the unwritten rule between older persons and teenagers."
"Yeah, yeah sure..." he trailed off, glancing out the window and absent-mindedly petting Akamaru.
"Hey sis?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I go to a party on Saturday?"
"Hmm and where is this party?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but I'll find out tomorrow?"
"Okay, sure."
He turned to her, "Really?"
"Yeah, you never ask to go to these things anyways. So what the hell."
He smiled and went back to patting Akamaru.
All was well for the next few minutes, until...
"Um, why is the car slowing down?"
...
Five minutes later they were still out side the car, Kiba trying to keep Akamaru from chasing the small animals, and his sister poking the engine helplessly.
Finally she threw her hands up in the air. "That's it, I'm calling the garage!" she grabbed her phone out the car and leaned against the door as Kiba watched her dial the numbers.
She started talking to the person on the other line, waving her hand in dramatic gestures that the other person couldn't see.
He was surprised when a sleek, silver, Audi r8 pulled up in front of him
He wasn't about to go any closer. It could be a kidnapper!
He almost fainted when Shino's head finally showed when the tinted window went down smoothly.
"What seems to be the problem?" His smooth voice was just like his car, and it sent shivers down Kiba's spine.
"I, we..." he glanced at his sister. She was oblivious, shouting down the person on the phone and still waving her hands in wide, almost humorous gestures.
Shino lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow at her. Was she like this all the time?
"We don't know what's wrong. Hana is trying to call a, um, mechanic to see what's wrong."
"Maybe I can see, mind if I take a look?"
Kiba shook his head.
Shino shut off the car and got out.
It was when he took off his jacket and threw it back into the car, then rolled up the sleeves of his school shirt to his elbows and opened the hood, looking around with hidden eyes when Hana abruptly stopped talking and noticed Shino for the first time.
The two Inuzuka's turned as red as the tribal markings on their face.
Gosh his biceps were perfect, they just looked so strong under the clothing, yet smooth and soft skin covered them.
Hana shifted over to her brother and whispered, "Who's the hunk?"
"Guy from my school."
"Well he's a hunk."
"I think you already established that."
"It seems to be a defective rotor, and you spark plugs are old. I'm surprised you actually got this far. I'd give you a jump start, but it doesn't seem like it'd work in this situation. Didn't your check engine light come on?"
"No," she shook her head, "Could you...is there any way to explain that simpler. I don't exactly speak 'Car and driver."
"Not exactly, who did you get to look at it?"
"No one actually. It seems to be the top notch season for cars to either be damaged or tuned up."
Shino pulled out his phone and called someone, walking to get his jacket as he did so.
"So, is everyone at this school of yours that gorgeous?" Hana whispered when Shino was walking to his car.
"Yep." Kiba answered.
"Honestly? I need to go back to high school."
"Yes, Neji dearest," Shino walked past them, putting down the hood. "...About half a mile from Anbu Street." (2)
"How well do you know him?" Hana asked.
"Hardly at all..."
They watched as he went around the car, looking at god knows what and relating it to Neji, before hanging up and coming to stand in front of them.
"He's sending a tow. I'm not the best at car, so that may not be all thats wrong, you should go with the tow and find out what needs to be done, and how long everything's gonna take."
"How about, how much is this gonna cost?"
"Don't think anything about it. He doesn't need it anyway. Consider it a gift."
"From someone I don't know..."
"Hey what about me?" Kiba asked.
"Sorry Kiba, I'm just going to go straight to the office to check up on some things after I go to...wherever."
"I'll give you a ride." Shino suggested.
"See Kibbles, your friend will give you a ride."
"But..."
"Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl."
"I'm not sure; we're still waiting for the DNA gender results."
She grabbed him and gave him a noogie. "Now go, and don't let Akamaru mess up your nice friend's car!"
"Yes mother."
Kiba sat down in the front of the gorgeous car after grabbing his backpack. The inside had that fresh, clean car smell. And the seats gave the 'unfamiliar car, but still comfortable' feel. He held on to closely to Akamaru.
"So where am I going?" Shino asked.
"Uh, just past Jiraiya Street."
"Ok." he revved off.
"What kind of dog is that? A terrier?" Shino asked after two minutes.
Kiba grinned, "I'm not really sure. My sister found him on the streets and nursed him back to health and he stuck to me ever since."
"Yeah, he does seem loyal."
"Do you like animals?"
"They're okay, I just prefer insects more."
"Insects? Why"
"I guess I got it from my father, and his father. They're just misunderstood, and they are beautiful in their own ways, not in the same ways everyone sees cats and hamsters and...dogs. They're unique..."
"Yeah," Kiba smiled faintly, "I guess they are. Oh stop at the house with the blue bird bath!"
Shino stopped the car smoothly in front of the house.
"So uh..."
"Your dog is looking a little queasy there."
Kiba looked down, and there was Akamaru, shivering slightly.
"Oh!" Kiba exclaimed. He'd forgotten to stroke Akamaru's hair while he was in the car.
Shino popped the safety lock.
Kiba let Akamaru out first, who scampered off happily, and was about to get out and tell Shino bye at the same time. But when he turned, Shino's face was closer than normal and he was leaning past Kiba and closing the door.
"I didn't say you could go too." When he'd closed the door to his liking, he turned his hidden eyes on Kiba who, backed against the door, gulped and fretted for his life.
"Um, wh-what are you-"
"Kiba," Shino whispered, his warm minty breath fanning over Kiba's face and sinking into his skin, "Do you remember what I said earlier, after lunch."
Kiba blushed at the memory.
Shino's face went down lower, he nestled his face in the curve of his neck and groaned.
"Do you know what you smell like?"
"Uh, dog h-hair?" Kiba joked nervously.
Shino chuckled and Kiba gulped again at the feel "Nope, you smell like the morning does, when it's fresh and clean and crisp after the rain."
Kiba flushed at the description.
"And..." he flicked out his tongue and flattened it against his skin, licking it swirling it in tiny circles, "you taste like apples."
Kiba held his breath while Shino gave his last lick to his neck and moved away.
He looked down at the flushed Kiba and smirked, then he looked past his shoulder and his eyebrows furrowed as his smile dropped.
He looked back down at Kiba, "You have to go."
"What...why?" he slapped his hand over his mouth after that.
"As flattered as I am...there's someone waiting for you."
Now Kiba was confused, he sat up and looked out the window, then his mouth fell open.
Standing there, or rather stooping was his mother, who was supposed to be in Africa, petting Akamaru and looking from him to the car with questioning eyes.
"Shit," he cursed. She'd hated when Lee's dad brought him home once, so he was fretting about Shino.
Turning back to him, he smiled shyly, "Thanks for the ride."
"Anytime."
He grabbed his bag and got out, not turning to his mother until Shino's car was out of sight.
He turned to face her criticizing eyes and raised eyebrows.
Time to face the music.
Lee slipped into his light green jacket almost unhappily.
He'd just heard from Gai-sensei that the younger children at the dojo were having a tournament with two other dojos.
And Gai-sensei had to go too!
This meant he wouldn't be around to train Lee!
Lee sulked and looked more like a kicked kitten even more every second.
And just because of the stupid tournament, Gai-sensei had ended class almost two and a half hours earlier and now Lee had two hours before his father picked him up to go home.
What was he supposed to do for two hours!
Exasperated and flustered, Lee decided to explore the dojo. It was very big. And he had never really gone any further than his training room and the lockers.
So with his training bag in tow, he walked up the steps to the third level, because he was starting from the top and working his way down.
The first thing he noticed was that it was extremely quiet.
Tip-toeing to the first open door he saw, he wondered if anyone was actually there.
Surprisingly when he peeked, he saw a group of twenty or more, sitting in straight rows and columns, in the Buddha position. They were all silent, with their eyes closed, and were merely sitting there
...Doing...Nothing.
...Absolutely...Nothing.
For some reason, Lee was getting a relaxed vibe from this room.
He shook his head and walked away.
Further down, there was a room with people doing yoga poses.
The instructor was calling out various reasons for the position they did.
Lee couldn't help but tilt his head at one position they did, which included the feet behind the head, with both hands clasped over the groin while lying on their back.
This class must have been for experts...
Lee was about to move on, but before he could move, a hand went over his mouth and another went over his arms and around his waist. And someone pressed him to a firm chest to keep him from moving.
By the time he recovered from the shock of a kidnapper he was already dragged down the hall and into a closet.
The arms released him, and he twisted around to give whoever a piece of his mind, and foot, but the same time the light flicked on and he faced the grinning face of...Gaara.
Lee sputtered unintelligently.
"Hey." Gaara grinned devilishly, stepping closer to Lee.
Lee hugged his training bag in front of him almost protectively.
Ten Gaara reached out a hand...and pinched Lee's cheek.
"You are so cute." Gaara grinned, reaching up with his other hand to pinch his other, now cherry red, cheek.
Lee didn't know whether to laugh at the adoring look on Gaara's face, or faint from the contact the Adonis in front of him was giving him.
Gaara froze, and then raised a nonexistent eyebrow at Lee. "What are you doing up here, pray tell?"
Lee looked at him with wide eyes, "I was just- I didn't mean..."
Gaara smirked, "Don't worry, I was just curious if your into yoga and all that meditation shitz."
Lee shook his head, "Are you?"
"Pssh, me? Hell no! I just- well my sister dragged me here and forced me into class one day. I hate it, but it does wonders for your temper. I mean, it's either sit down and focus or put another kid in the ER. That...and the wicked adult dojo downstairs is also a great place to let off steam. They never admit defeat to someone younger than them until they're blacking out from blood loss."
Lee looked at him with wide eyes; maybe he should be wary of this guy.
"Oh no, I'd never beat you up. Is there a reason for me to?"
Lee shook his head quickly.
Gaara smiled, "Well then that's good. Why don't you talk much?"
Lee blinked, "I-I-I...I don't know what to say."
"How about, 'Yes Gaara my love I will be yours forever..."he paused to hold Lee's hands, "'and ravish my gorgeous body in any way you'd like until the end of time.'"
He pulled Lee into his arms, gym bag and all.
Lee squeaked and stared up into Gaara's twinkling teal eyes.
He really couldn't compare to the perfection in front of him. Gaara had the most beautiful eyes, and his we're a dark dull brown, almost black. His hair was just plain and black while Gaara's was a shocking red; like fresh blood or red wine. Gaara's skin seemed to glow while he had paper white skin.
Simply Gaara was bright and he...wasn't.
He tried to get out of Gaara's arms, but his strength was like iron.
Gaara just tilted his head and gave Lee a look, "What's wrong?"
Lee swallowed, "Nothing."
"Ok then, if there's nothing wrong, then if I asked you to go out with me tomorrow you say yes, right."
Lee froze...
Gaara was asking him out...
Gaara...was...
Gaara...
...he was...
...huh...
Lee was about to say yes, but then he thought of his dad, he would never...
"I-I don't think I can."
Gaara frowned, "Why?"
"My dad, he- he's really strict."
Gaara pouted, "So then I guess he wouldn't let you go to Sakura's party on Saturday?"
Lee thought for a second, On Saturday's his father always went out for drinks and never came back until the next day. He probably wouldn't care if he went.
"Maybe I can..."
Lee didn't get any further when Gaara suddenly hugged him tightly.
"Yaay..."
Slightly dazed, Lee looked at a grinning Gaara.
...Then watched as his smile faded.
Frowning, he released Lee and reached around to the back of his pants.
He glimpsed at the caller id of his vibrating phone and groaned.
He looked at Lee then the phone, then back at Lee again.
Groaning he said, "Tomorrow? I can hold you to that?"
When Lee nodded, he made towards the door, then with a second thought, turned and pecked Lee on the cheek. Before moving away, he whispered to him. "Tomorrow..."
He opened the door, going out of it and snarling into the phone: "What? I told you I was coming already. Did you have to...it's not all that late..." his voice drifted off as he went around the corner down the hall.
Lee leaned against the wall, thinking about what just happened.
Gaara seemed angry. Where did he have to go that he was so late? He looked down at his watch at that.
Shit!
His dad must have already been waiting for him.
Gripping his gym bag, he ran towards the stairs at top speed.
(1)I know Neji's dad is dead...work ith me here...
(2) I know, unoriginal, but it's all I got.
Wow...if you actually stuck out to the end... then 'kudos Yo!' You deserve so much more than a cookie...
About, the Gaalee part...I've been writing so long, without stopping, I got woozy and it's kinda less enjoyable than the others. God Gaara's probably gonna kill me. My doors just gonna bust down, and in all the dust and wood, Gaara's gonna be there, with crazed eyes, and a chainsaw shouting: "Here's Gaary!"
Oh god I'm worried...
But...Other than the looming threat of attempted murder...
You just realized I wasn't kidding when I said this chap is a monster.
I tried to stop it from going over 8,000 words, I really did, but this A/N is pushing that limit right now. By now I'm convinced, I'm either gonna go blind, get CTS or have both simultaneously...Mmm yummy (I'm I the only one tasting the sarcasm)
Also, Shino you dog! He moves fast, no?
...Ending it quickly...
If it was long...and boring, sent me a review...still.
If it was okay...drop a line.
If you wanna cuss me out about abnormally long chapters, then PM me, or review...either works.
Either way...FEED MY DOG! (See first chapter for explanation)
Please guys don't tell me I wrote all that for nothing. Amma take a nap. C'mon cheer me up... Xoxo.
-Werepire.