He realized, that blood had centered on the almost completely severed vain in the back of his neck. " How has no one noticed this?" asked. An enraged Shikamaru. " The color of my eyes hides it well enough and nobody has tried to look." ,said Neji. Slightly scared at the anger in Shikamaru's tone. " No one in your clan noticed?" asked Shikamaru. As he massaged Neji's neck. " No because I keep a large amount of chakra centered just behind my eyes just in case I need to activate my bloodline limit." said Neji. " So how do you get around?" asked Shikamaru. He was curious.
Neji's hand slid in to his hair. He pulled out the hair tie. He reached up and felt the familiar knot of his headband and started to untie it. Shikamaru wondered what he was doing. " Can you hold this?" asked Neji. As he stuck his hand out with the hair tie in Shikamaru's general direction. Shikamaru took the hair tie from him. The headband fell and Shikamaru caught it. " Are you sure your not mad at me for telling you all this and not saying anything to anyone in the village?" asked Neji. " Trust me on this I will keep this a secret" said Shikamaru. Neji took a breath, and went through ten hand signs.
Suddenly, Neji took in a sharp breath. Shikamaru stood and walked around to stand in front of Neji . He lightly dropped to his knees in front of him. He wrapped his arms around Neji. As he did, he felt him lean into the touch like a cat. He realized Neji was starved for affection. He wasn't really surprised, seeing as in that clan you had to be perfect. " What are you doing?" asked Shikamaru. " I activated my curse mark." said Neji. " How did you know the hand signs?" asked Shikamaru. " They're not really observant when they are torturing a fellow branch member on the training ground." said Neji.
" Wouldn't they know a branch member was using the curse jutsu?" asked Shikamaru. " No, they wouldn't expect a branch member to know the hand signs needed." said Neji. " Stop it, stop degrading your self. Just because you a Hyuuga, does not mean your emotionless." said Shikamaru. Angrily. " But I'm supposed to be." said Neji. Quietly. " No your not. Let it go Neji. I will not judge you here. I will be your shoulder to cry on when you need it." said Shikamaru.
Neji started shaking. Silent sobs wracked his body. Shikamaru was furious with Neji's clan. Shikamaru understood Neji had to protect himself emotionally. After all, Neji had enemies both in and out of the clan. But what Shikamaru couldn't understand, was why Hiashi hadn't noticed. He knew Hyuugas prided themselves on being able to read people. Neji especially. He knew it wasn't easy for Neji to let someone be there for him. He knew Neji didn't want his pity. But he also knew Neji needed someone there. He knew it was hard to emotionally let yourself fall because no one wanted to catch you. He knew that feeling. Shikamaru knew Neji couldn't let go because it was ingrained in him from practically the get go that he needed to be emotionless. But he vowed to be Neji's silent, none judge mental shoulder to lean and cry on.
Shikamaru snapped out of his musings as he felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around him and a head nestle under his chin. Neji finally gave in. He sobbed loudly. Shikamaru just sat there. Holding him and letting him release his burdens. Shikamaru ran hand though Neji's hair. Scratching it like he would a cat. After fifteen minutes, he stopped sobbing.
" Nara, you tell anyone I let you scratch me I will cause you immense pain." said Neji. Shikamaru laughed. " Sure Neji." said Shikamaru. Still chuckling. " Can you help me up?" asked Neji timidly. Shikamaru once again grabbed Neji in a hug and slowly rose to his feet. When Shikamaru let go, Neji swayed. Shikamaru's arms were back around him in a second. " I need to be able to make hand signs." said Neji.