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Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View
Chapter Eight: Curiosity Piqued

"I am an investigator by inclination. I feel a great thirst for knowledge."
― Immanuel Kant

Neji was a light sleeper, by nature. Therefore, he was surprised to find himself surfacing from a rare, deep sleep – the kind where his mind was still and content to allow his senses to wake in their own time. When his eyes drifted open, he had a moment of pure peace before asking himself,

"Where am I?"

Normally he would have shot to alertness and bolted to his feet, but he surprised himself by remaining calm and carefully surveying the room. As he moved his blanket something crinkled, catching his attention.

There was a note pinned to his chest.

Confused, but curious, he managed to undo the rather large safety pin and read the note.

Good morning, Neji. Did you know that you are a very sound sleeper? Hinata told me to let you rest, and she will run you home this morning. You are welcome to borrow the clean clothes I left on the chair, or wear the ones I washed last night. If you decide not to change, just return the clothes next time you come to KH. Toiletries in the bathroom, your phone is charging by the clothes. See you at breakfast - Tenten.

He stared stupidly at the note for a while, parsing it all together. Had she tried to wake him? He really must have been very deeply asleep, then – perhaps because of his misadventure in the lake? That had to be it; deep sleep only came to Neji if was very tired and somewhere familiar. He could tolerate hotels, but strongly disliked staying in the homes of others. There was no other possible explanation for his having been so completely insensible to the world around him.

His ruminations continued long enough that he remembered he was in a papasan, and briefly wondered if there was a way to extricate himself without tipping himself and the chair onto the floor. Gingerly he removed the blankets and swung himself to sitting, feet on the floor. With a small exhale of relief, he sat for a moment before standing and stretching his arms over his head.

He blinked once or twice before heading to the chair where everything was neatly laid out for him. He quickly checked his messages, and the time. It was later than he tended to wake, but it was still early by general standards. Hinata's message invited him to brunch at Konoha West but that she'd be glad to take him home any time before or after it. Another glance at the time assured him he had both options available to him. Hanabi had spent the night, so it would be a bonus if he could see both of his cousins.

The text he didn't expect was from Shikamaru.

'If anyone asks, the clothes you borrowed are mine, and you slept in the RoR. I made sure it was locked while you were in Tenten's room. I left you shoes, too, since yours were still gross. I bought the wrong size, but didn't bother to return them, so you can keep them if they fit. Just a hint; if you wear the same clothes as last night, the girls will tease you.'

Neji looked at the text, puzzled. 'What's RoR'

'The Room of Requirement. The one you have a key to."

"I will do what you suggest. Mind telling me why?"

"When I get back."

'I look forward to it.'

Still puzzled, but aware that Shikamaru was far too lazy to have bothered with a message if it were not something he deemed worthwhile, he followed his advice.

He decided the jeans he was wearing were more presentable than the folded joggers on the chair, and would mean less laundry to return. He freshened up and put all things he borrowed into the bag holding his clothes, made sure the room was in order, and went down the stairs. He still had his key, so after Tenten's door locked behind him, he let himself into the 'room of requirement.' There, as promised, was a new pair of shoes, next to the bagged pair of shoes that Neji suspected he would be throwing away.

"Might as well make it convincing," he muttered, folding up the pillows and blankets clearly left for him to use, and placing his things neatly in a corner before relocking the room, and going downstairs.

He ran into Kiba first, who looked him up and down with a crooked grin.

"I don't know that I've ever seen you in something that wasn't ironed."

"Where would you like me to put the linens from last night?"

"Linens," he called over his shoulder, causing a chorus of groans. "Pay up!"

Neji arched an eyebrow at Kiba, who patted him on the back.

"Knew you wouldn't let me down, Hyūga. C'mon. We're in the morning room. It's just us."

Neji followed Kiba to a room just off of the kitchen, and found several residents of Konoha East and West already in there. The side table with carafes of coffee beckoned him, even as Naruto jumped into his path.

"Neji," Naruto's eyes were wide. "How could you?"

"How could I…?"

"Linens? Are you kidding me?"

"As opposed to 'sheets?'"

"No!" Naruto looked pained. "I was certain you would go super-stuffy and call them bed clothes!"

Neji lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. "They weren't on a bed."

A chorus of "Oh-ho!" and "Called it!" went up. Neji followed their pointing fingers to Tenten, who was sipping at a large mug and failing at hiding a smug smile.

"Seriously?" Naruto planted his hands on his hips. "How did you know that is what he would say. Verbatim?"

"Since when do you know the word verbatim?" Neji quirked an eyebrow, earning another round of cheers, and more satisfaction from Tenten.

"This is just…" Naruto gulped as Tenten looked at him sharply. "Ludacris," he croaked.

Neji looked at Tenten. "Did you teach him these words?"

"Aw, c'mon, Neji," Naruto threw up his arms. "You know I'm not dumb. Did the two of you coordinate this?"

Neji crossed his arms. "Any deficits in your vocabulary can hardly be placed at my door."

"Fine," Naruto huffed. "Get you a tea?"

"I'd prefer coffee, if that is an option."

The eruption was instantaneous and Kiba pumped his fist in the air before pointing at Tenten. "YES! My girl – NAILED IT!"

Tenten simply poured coffee into a travel mug, screwed on the lid and handed it over to him.

She held it out to him and he raised his eyebrows. "Are there further bets on my response, or will a 'Thank you' suffice."

"You're welcome," Tenten smiled, and winked at him quickly – so quickly, he doubted anyone else noticed.

"You had to have help from Ino, right?" Naruto pressed. "Or Hinata told you the kinds of things Neji says?"

"I am observant, Naruto," Tenten said, amused. "Even you know how to do that when it matters."

Naruto flushed, and Neji had the distinct impression Tenten was referring to how much of his observational prowess had been directed at Hinata.

"Besides," Kiba slung an arm around Tenten's shoulders. "Tenten is so badass that she's the only girl to live here in decades. You think Tsunade or Jiraiya would've let her in here if she wasn't the best about getting the lay of the land?"

"She probably wanted to make sure someone made you mind your mess," Sakura teased, poking her head around the corner of the archway leading to the kitchen. "Come help carry things!"

Naruto rushed to help, as did Kiba and Kankurō, while Shino (who Neji had not noticed at all) helped Tenten with something on the sideboard. Neji made it as far as the doorway when Sakura waved him back. "We've got it," she grinned. "Thanks for the offer."

He dipped his head and stepped back, as everyone came back in, bearing food, including Konohamaru, Hanabi, Hinata, and of course Chōji.

"I hope you like waffles," Chōji grinned as he pushed a cart to where Shino and Tenten were working. "Made to order and ready!"

"My wife is the best," Kiba sighed happily, placing the chafing dish of bacon on the buffet.

Ino chuckled at him as she put a basket of bread at the end of the table. "Shika and I saw him first. We'll fight you."

"Bacon like this is worth dying for," Kiba shrugged.

Everyone shuffled around before finding a seat, and Neji looked up to see Hanabi, blinking widely as if she had just yawned. She stared at Neji for a moment, her mouth hanging open.

"Yes?"

He asked, amused by her gaping like a fish.

"You…you're wearing jeans."

"Courtesy of Shikamaru," Neji agreed, "and a much better option than wearing what I wore when I got pushed into the lake."

Hanabi shook her head back and forth. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Here," Hinata guided her to a seat. "I'll get you a plate."

Hanabi was too dumbstricken to do much more than nod, but the others took Hinata's cue, and began filing toward the table to gather their own breakfast. Soon the room was humming with the sounds of old friends making pleasant conversation, with plenty of attention given to Hanabi and her impending enrollment at KU.

Neji was content to listen and observe, commenting when he needed to. His eyes drifted to Tenten, watching as she, too, listened. If she asked questions, they were focused and thoughtful. There was a precision to what she did, that should have felt sharper – more angled – than it did. He was beginning to appreciate her arsenal of skills – particularly conversational ones.

She met his eyes for a moment, and flicked them to his coffee. He shook his head minutely, she gave a brief nod, and stood to refill her own mug.

It struck him, then, that perhaps he was at a disadvantage; that he had been observed more than he had observed in turn. Tenten had gone so far as to share her space with him – something he knew she did not do lightly, and must have had some observational assurances prior to deciding to extend the invitation. And what was that text from Shikamaru about? Why did it matter who lent him what clothing?

Tenten returned to the table, laughing at something Hanabi said, and Neji smiled into his coffee.

It had been quite some time since he was curious about anything, or anyone.

Perhaps – just perhaps - it was time he turned his attention more fully to Tenten, and life at the Hidden Leaf.