Note from the Author: This is the single most underrated pairing in the entirety of Naruto fan fiction. It's adorable and there are only about seven fics for it.

And the prompt for this was the record-breaking cold of Chicago right now. :blows on hands to warm them:

United Unicorn Society: Eep! I'm so excited to meet the rest of the Akatsuki! Actually, I'm just excited for part two in general! I promise that when I meet him, I'll write a story about him for you.

Naash: -.- That one-shot came out so weird. But it's okay! And it was sad – sadder than I'd meant it to be.

Ravensbff: Well, the Konoha Eleven (minus TenTen, who for some reason got screwed out of this arc) are going to the rescue of the Suna kids, and they're all worrying about their friends and Kiba's randomly worrying about Kankurou, and for some reason, I'm currently in love with Kankurou. o.o I don't really understand it either. And I'm flattered that you expect and look forward to my randomness. :hugs:

Cold

Neji shoved his half-frozen hands in his pockets, risking a sniffle. He was wearing gloves, but they had no fingers because it was harder to direct weapons when he couldn't use chakra to control them (a lesson learned through experience as opposed to the Academy), but not being able to feel his fingers seemed more than a little counterproductive.

It was one of the coldest days Konoha had felt in years. As the Leaf Village, it assumed a pretty constant climate, warm and comfortable, but this winter, Konoha had taken a turn for the worse, and snow was expected in the next few days.

Neji grimaced as he bent his head against a piercing wind, determined to train despite the weather. Everyone knew he was a great ninja, but his resilience astounded even his teammates on this icy day, especially since his health didn't seem to agree with the cold, and he sniffled again.

"The Hyuuga prodigy has a cold, huh? So he is human!"

The Hyuuga in question scowled. That voice. The last voice he wanted to hear right now. Bringing his proud white gaze up from its determined path on the sidewalk, he glared at his cousin's teammate, who was standing before him, grinning. Kiba.

Kiba was one of those people who are absolutely impossible to be around if one cherishes quiet or calm at all. He was boisterous and, Neji supposed, the perfect company for someone like Hinata, who needed to be constantly reminded of her worth, because Kiba never left anyone feeling forgotten.

What Neji didn't understand was why Kiba insisted on pestering him. After the Sasuke retrieval mission, Neji had regained consciousness in the hospital to Kiba and Akamaru perched amiably on the end of his bed, and they had smiled at him as he opened his eyes, immediately offering him sanctuary against the silence without forcing him to speak himself.

Ever since, Neji had had a constant companion. If he was out around Konoha, it didn't take Kiba's nose long to find him and for him to fall into step beside him. Neji didn't know why exactly he followed him around, teasing him and talking loudly to himself (since Neji usually refused to justify his words with responses), but he didn't particularly mind. In fact, he'd grown extremely accustomed to, if not fond of, his company.

Except today – today it was cold, and Neji was under the impression he had a fever. The last person he wanted to see – or hear, for that matter, because his ears ached – was Kiba who always had a smile on his face and laughter in his voice.

Only now, upon witnessing the miserable expression on his friend's face, he frowned. "Jeez, should you be training? You don't look so good." He grinned suddenly. "I know just the thing to help." He tugged his wrist, successfully pulling the wearily submissive older boy's hand from his pocket, and grasped it, pulling him along.

Now Neji was sure he had a fever because his face was very hot.

0

"Here," Kiba's smile was proud as he nudged a mug into Neji's pale-than-usual hands.

The Hyuuga lifted his head from where he had uncharacteristically dropped it on the table in his fatigue – Had he really been planning to train? – and wrinkled his nose at the drink. "I don't really do sweet things."

The way Kiba's face fell disappointedly made Neji wince and he found himself lifting the mug to take a sip. It was hot chocolate, but something was different about it, that made it taste sweeter and, in a way, cooler. "Peppermint," the Inuzuka stated as if he read his mind. "It helps clear sinuses."

"How do you know that?" Neji was actually enjoying the drink. The hot liquid made his throat feel better, at least.

"My mom made it for me a lot when I was younger." He shrugged, sitting down across the table from his friend. "I liked it more because I liked feeling like someone cared about me."

Neji smiled, laid his hand over the other boy's. "It's a nice feeling."

0

Additional A/N: Yay for fluffiness! This was fun to write.