Tai: It's short, it's not that great, but its an update. Don't complain too much about it, at least you know why they're out there...and a few other fun things. Yes...well I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this story, if not then read carefully

Disclaimer: Don't own.

"Shit."

"That was Sakura, wasn't it?" Kiba asked, pressing his hands against the ground and pushing himself up. Neji had activated his bloodline trait fairly quickly after the first noise, and nodded his response. "And from her reaction, she thinks we're a couple."

"I suppose our situation does seem rather unusual. What are you doing out here anyway? The Inuzuka questioned, helping the Hyuuga up. "I was out here training." The white-eyed boy stated. "Underwater your movements are slowed to a point that running is more like walking. Lee uses weights to increase his speed, I use the water."

"You were attempting to move at normal speed under the water? That's basically how I've learnt to increase the speed of Gatsuga. There's a deeper lake about four miles from here that's better for that sort of training." Kiba shrugged. "But by now Sakura will be halfway to town, catching her and explaining what we're really doing out here and getting her to believe us is near impossible. Once she tells Ino, that's it. So, do we go with her misinterpretation or explain to everyone why we were here?"

"What are you doing out here anyway, Inuzuka?" Neji snapped, pulling on his shirt. "And why aren't you wearing a shirt?" "Akamaru lead me out here, my jacket got caught on a branch halfway and he took off at a run. Middle of the night isn't the most fun time to try and find a dog, even one as big as him, so I slipped out of it and chased him. Enough of that, what do we do about Sakura?" Kiba growled again, making the elder nod.

"She thinks we're a couple, and its unlikely anyone will believe we just happened to be in the same area during the dead of night, training and attempting to catch Akamaru." With his clothes on fully, Neji dropped to sit, Kiba following suit. "Usually the lie is more believable than the truth. If we agree with what Sakura says, there's less trouble."

"But once they all know, they will ask. What do we tell them then?" Kiba sighed. "Either way they'll ask questions. If we tell the truth, it'll be seen as a lie to hide what Sakura thinks she saw, but if we lie they'll ask questions that there are no answers to. That and they'll expect that they'll see more of a relationship now that they know."

Neji rubbed his temples, neither male knowing just how to deal with the situation. "We'll have to fake it. I'm a jounin, so I can request missions away when our teams might be used together. Relationships would interfere with missions, so it'd make it more believable. We'll probably have to go out for dinner at least once too."

"One more thing – details. It'll be more believable if there's details that are convincing." Kiba agreed. "How long have you been coming out here alone?" "Four months." The Hyuuga replied. "Akamaru started wanting out at night about 3 months ago, so three and a half months should be realistic enough."

Neji nodded stiffly, it wasn't usually the type of thing he thought about, especially not with another guy. However, things had changed and that was the situation they'd been forced into, so both ninja had to deal with it.

Standing, the usually energetic Inuzuka turned to leave, Akamaru by his side. "Oh, and if anyone asks I top." Flashing his fangs, the tan boy darted into the trees to find his jacket, leaving a growling Hyuuga behind him. "Faking a relationship with the guy you have a crush on, nice going. And you said me taking you out most nights was a bad thing."

"He seems less than happy about it Akamaru. But if it's what he thinks is the best course of action, then I'll go along with it." Finding the black cloth he'd abandoned, he swiftly untangled it from the tree branch and slipped it on once again, looking down at Akamaru.

"So what, you're saying I should've just let you continue to lust after him silently and hope he'd notice you like him? He's a Hyuuga; they're not as smart as they think they are. My way works much quicker, and who knows, maybe Mr Prodigy will like having you as a fake boyfriend and actually ask you out. I'm sure you'll have loads of fun together."

"Shut it, Akamaru." Kiba growled, knowing deep down the large canine was telling the truth.

Meanwhile Neji was still back at the lake, attempting to make himself believe the lie enough that when saying it, people wouldn't see it as a blatant lie. 'First thing in the morning I'll go and request a solo mission from Tsunade. Kiba can deal with the questions for now.'

The Hyuuga prodigy sighed, finally getting to his feet and slipping into the woods. 'I stay and answer questions, or go on a mission and leave it to the Inuzuka. I'm sure he can come up with answers more easily than me, he's probably been told more than enough about sex by his clan.'

His mind made up, Neji set his pale lilac eyes on the Hyuuga compound and noted where the guards were, managing to slip into the compound with their notice, and into his room. Sleep wasn't something he wanted at the moment, as he began to dig through his draws and bag for his usual equipment, preparing for a mission he may not end up with.

He needed something, anything, to get his mind off the Inuzuka, and their predicament. 'Oh come on, you know you wanted it. You could moved the second you saw the dog. You stayed still so this predicament that you don'twant is your fault. Deal with it like a man.'

'…I suppose. Hell, may I'll get lucky and the Inuzuka will actually fall for me.'

'Can I suggest one thing?'

'What?'

'Stop talking to yourself in your mind. If you told anyone about this, they'd class you as insane.'

'Point taken.'

Tai: Yea...I love making Neji talk to himself, you should check out To Be Alone, that kind of talk-to-self conversation is fun. Review please