"Good evening, Nara-san. You'll be ensured absolute protection here, in the Hyuuga mansion." I step toward the couch with a mask of concern. "Are you alright?"

"Somewhat," the man mutters, returning to his resting position. "Guess I stayed up too late at the hospital last night."

I press my lips together grimly and offer a polite bow. "My condolences."

Lee mimics the gesture, reciting in a quiet tone for once, "I am sorry for your loss."

"It's alright." Shikamaru brings his arms up and rests his hands behind his head, eyes stuck firmly to the ceiling. "Besides, we weren't blood related."

A tinge of sadness breathes through his mouth.

"…I'll miss him."

We allow ourselves to immerse in a mournful moment of silence. I glance at Lee, inaudibly imploring him to keep quiet for a minute longer, and he thankfully does. As I feel the realm of peace slowly degrade into an awkward absence of all sound, I break it, clearing my throat. "Nara-san, I heard you were feeling ill."

"I'm fine. Just a bit cold."

"Would you like for me to get a radiator?" I coat my tone with courtesy.

"Yes. Thank you."

I nod once more, and allow my eyes to briefly scan through the room's foreground objects, pausing a second for every shade of white or gray reflected, but to no avail. It's not here. I let the gears within my memory wheel and turn, reminding myself that I did indeed bring it into the room for No.10 before I departed earlier. I grimace. "Nara-san, pardon me. I will search for it now."

"Allow me to assist you, Neji-san!" is the immediate response I get, except from the wrong person.

Nonetheless, I turn towards Lee, deciding that his agility can make the search through the Hyuuga manor a lot easier, and accept his request with a slight nod. "Cover the left wing. I'll cover the right." He salutes. "I apologize, Nara-san."

"It's fine," Shikamaru reassures as he moves four warm pillows from the other end of the silk couch and buries himself under them. "This will do for now."

As Lee lets out a small chuckle, I eye him and then the left door. He nods, and we begin our search.

Why isn't it in the living room? Where exactly could it be now? Did No.10 escape with it in hand? I shake my head with furrowed eyebrows, deeming the theory as preposterous. But then again, No.10 herself is quite preposterous…

I sigh, continuing to scan through the hallways, rooms, closets, and hidden staircases for any sign of the radiator. I silently curse at the family's main branch for leaving me with only one, only to shamelessly take the words back upon realizing that one heater for one single person makes perfect sense.

Unexpectedly, a loud stumble from the upper northwest division of the compound resonates through the wall beside me, followed by a sequence of unruly screams. I hurriedly swerve around the left corner and run up the nearest staircase, to find an uncanny sight unraveled before my eyes.

The first room I see, which is coincidentally my own bedroom, has its door wide open, with a shocked Lee facing it. He finally turns to me, with a sheepish frown attached to his now unusually pale complexion, and points to my bedroom. "I found it." He gulps. "But…"

I arch an eyebrow at the overreaction, but nevertheless follow his finger's pointed direction and enter my room. My gaze immediately travels to the radiator positioned in front of my wooden bedpost, and a look of satisfaction grows upon my features. "Good work, Lee." I turn around to face the man, whose finger remains frozen in the air. "Let's return—"

"Be…" Lee mechanically shifts his wide eyes to meet my blank stare. "B-Behind you—"

"Welcome back." I automatically whip around in surprise at the familiar voice, and direct my bewilderment to my bed. Though it's a wonder how I didn't notice upon first entrance, I now take in the sight of my messily tossed and turned blanket, and the vague outline of a thin figure lying beneath it. "You took forever," a lethargic voice whispers, and a brunette head surfaces from under the covers.

My breath hitches in my throat as notions of relief, anger, and utter shock inwardly battle for complete domination of my conscience.

No.10?

"Neji-san," Lee manages to utter. "Do you know her?"

"Of course he does," the woman replies with a convincing smile, and sits up straight, with my blanket embracing her form from shoulder down.

I remain expressionless as Lee turns to me for any sign of assurance, and then back to No.10. "Excuse me, ma'am." He makes a smooth recovery from his traumatized state and straightens his back with remarkable mannerism. "It wasn't of my intention to disrupt your slumber."

The woman titters melodiously and chimes, "It's fine." Delight mixes with her mischief. "What's your name, fine lad?"

"It's Lee, ma'am!" he responds readily. "May I ask for yours?"

There's a brief moment of contemplation, and I catch the hinted amusement No.10 flashes me from the corner of her eye. She begins to bring an arm from beneath the sheets, to shake hands with Lee, presumably. I watch with little reaction, until something in my head clicks.

Hide.

"Good evening, Lee."

The wounds.

"Call me—"

In a split second, a swift surge of adrenaline urges my footsteps forward, and my body rushes toward No.10, whose bruised arm is a mistake away from revealing itself. I wrap my arms around her fragile shoulders a bit more possessively than expected, and whisper quiescently into her ear, "Don't let him see your scars." She wordlessly brings a cold hand to my right arm, brushing it with the slightest fondness, and then slyly slides her limb back under the linen covers. "I'll bring dinner shortly," I softly add as waves of unexplainable sensation run up my arm.

"Lee." I rotate my torso to shift my attention back to the again confused man. "She's feeling…ill. It's best to leave her alone for now."

He slowly bobs his head down and then up as he observes the misleading scene between No.10 and I. With a tint of vexation, I descend from my bed and fetch the radiator with my left hand. Fortunately, Lee regains his ability to function and make his way down the stairs.

I send one last blink to No.10, whose opaque gaze quickly shifts to a small smile, and bid her a good night. "Come back soon," I hear her murmur in response before my tingling arm pulls the bedroom door shut.

Trailing down the steps and then veering around the left corner, my mind gradually dissolves into repose. She stayed in the compound after all. Then, I rewind back to confusion. Why? It was her perfect chance to escape—

"Does Hiashi-sama know about this?" I raise my eyes to see Lee leaning by the wall, casting a sideways glance of apprehension toward me.

I brush him off. "About what?

"About your woman."

"Pardon?"

Lee confirms it with an affirmative gesture. "The one resting upstairs."

"She's not my woman."

"Neji-san, what I saw in there suggests otherwise. If Hiashi-san were to—"

"Tell me," I challenge curtly. "Tell me what you saw in there, Lee-san."

Taken aback, he searches for the right words. "Neji-san was…embracing—"

"Can a man and a woman not come into physical contact without being labeled as romantically involved?"

"Well…" Lee stares at the floor, struggling to alter his perspective. "I apologize. Let me rephrase my question." He looks toward me meekly before proceeding. "Is Hiashi-san aware that you're keeping a lady friend in your bedroom?"

I blink twice, incapable of creating a feasible response. Keeping. A lady friend. In my bedroom. The situation did seem a bit shady in fact. I clear my throat. "No. She's a secret."

Instantaneously, the peculiar side of Lee is back, as his shiny hair flies up and twirls at the small detail. "A secret?" He clasps his hands in stupefaction. "So…it's a like…a private affair?" He fawns over the possibility, whispering foul scenarios to himself. "So she's like…" The romanticist within him literally sparkles. "Your mistress?"

I do everything in my power to keep my arm and the heavy radiator secured by my side, saving Lee from a heavy case of bloody loss. "Address her in whichever way you wish." My appearance turns grave again. "Just don't let Hiashi-san find out."

Lee nods frivolously. "I'll do my best to keep your secret relationship unexposed!"

I inwardly applaud myself. "Thank you. Don't tell Nara-san either," I add as I begin walking back.

He nods again. "But hey, Neji-san," he calls as he trails excitedly behind me, "what's your lady's name?"

As the living room finally comes into view from the opposite end of the hallway, I increase my pace, mainly to avoid answering the question. Lee matches my speed effortlessly. Damn his physical competence.

"Yuki," he tries. "Mimi," he tries again. "Nana?" And again.

"Tenten," I lie, shooting a glare in his direction. "But that's to be kept a secret as well." I step into the living room.

Lee pops a cheerful thumb up. "Understood, Neji-san." He follows suit.

An immediate grunt of complaint comes from the couch. "Took you guys long enough." I walk over to the sleep-talking man with the radiator, quickly settle it to the floor, and flick it on. "These pillows smell strange," he mutters, and unconsciously throws one to the carpeted floor. Lee laughs at the sight of the man fussing in his snooze. Exhaling with ease, I too listen to Shikamaru's rant.

"They smell like," he continues between soft snores.

A gentle pause.

"Blood and nail polish."