The Way Things Are

Another story. ^_^ Aren't I crazy? Yes, I am! I hope you guys like this story as much as you do my other ones. :D Happy reading!

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Prologue

8 year old Neji Hyuuga was sitting in his family gardens, staring at the koi pond located in the center. He watched as the fish swam around, with no particular interest in mind. Sighing softly, he sat down on one of the nearby benches, half glaring at everything in sight. Almost as if they could feel his eyes on them, the fish left the side he was closest to, only to swim completely to the opposite. Neji’s eyes narrowed once again before he looked to the sky.

The day was clear with a few clouds floating lightly in the sky. He watched silently as a few birds flew out of one of the garden’s trees and to the skies. He frowned and turned his attention back to the garden itself. His heart sank when he looked at the clouds. They reminded him on his father. The one person who he felt like had ever truly cared and loved him had died 4 years ago and he still couldn’t help but hate the people who had killed him. The main branch…he hated every single one of them.

“What’s with the glum look?”

Neji’s head snapped to the side to see who had invaded his privacy. How had he not noticed them?! His sense of other's chakra was almost unheard of at his age. The boy in view couldn’t be much younger than himself, maybe a year. His dark brown hair was pulled back in a high sitting ponytail, contrasting slightly with his dark brown eyes. His hands were sitting in his pockets and he had one of the most bored expressions on his face that Neji had ever seen.

“Who are you?” Neji frowned.

“I asked my question first, but I guess that doesn’t matter to you noble families,” the boy stated lazily. “Troublesome.”

Neji frowned and turned back to the pond in front of him. “Go away.”

The boy ignored him and did the exact opposite. He got closer. “Nara Shikamaru.”

“What?” Neji asked.

“That’s my name,” Shikamaru sighed. “They say you’re supposed to be a genius…”

Neji glared. “My abilities will not be mocked by a lowlife like you.” He knew this wasn’t the way someone was supposed to treat a guest, but he was feeling particularly bitter today.

Shikamaru shrugged. Did nothing bother this boy? “Mind answering my question?”

Neji was about to ask what the question was, but shut his mouth as his mind raced to answer the question on his tongue. “It’s none of your business,” he said softly, hating how weak the response sounded. This boy would probably poke and prod at that too, just like everyone else.

The Nara paused momentarily before he shrugged again and walked closer. “May I sit down?”

Beyond shocked, Neji merely scooted over, showing that the invitation was open. What was with this kid? He wasn’t like anyone else he had ever met. Already he was winning good points in Neji’s book, despite how rudely he had introduced himself. But then, not everyone was like the Hyuuga family. The thought was refreshing and so was Shikamaru. There was something about him that he liked and hated at the same time.

“Thanks,” Shikamaru said, slouching as he sat down and stared at the sky. “What’s your name?”

Neji’s eyes flitted over to the body next to his before they returned to the fish in the pond. “Hyuuga Neji.”

Shikamaru snorted. “Well, I figured you were a Hyuuga so that was unnecessary.”

Neji frowned. “Might I ask why you are in the Hyuuga home today?”

“Sure,” Shikamaru answered, smirking slightly.

Neji held back a growl. The Nara was slowly getting on his nerves. “Why are you in the Hyuuga home?”

“I don’t know,” Shikamaru replied, yawning. “I came with my parents. They had something to discuss with Hiashi.”

Neji almost exploded. “Do you have any idea what your parents might want to discuss with my...uncle?”

Shikamaru sighed, deciding now would be a good time not to play with the Hyuuga’s wording anymore. “Probably something to do with an arranged marriage for me.”

Mostly likely with Hinata, Neji thought, his eyes narrowing at the thought of the girl. “I see.”

“Your Uncle’s kind of uptight,” Shikamaru stated, eyes never leaving the sky.

Neji smirked at the thought. “You’d best watch what you say. You might offend someone.”

“Were you offended?” Shikamaru asked, sending a disbelieving look towards Neji.

Neji snorted. “Of course not. I want to have as little to do with the main branch as possible. I hate them.”

Shikamaru looked fully at him for that one. “What? Why do you say that?”

“They’re responsible for the death of my father,” Neji said quietly, looking down at the ground below his feet.

“You’re absolutely positive of that information?” Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

Neji faltered and instead chose not to respond. He didn’t have any proof. He glared at the ground. He didn’t need any. There was no other way his father would have been killed. “Hn.”

Shikamaru looked at him for a moment before he shrugged. “Sounds like you’re holding a grudge when you don’t have enough information.”

Neji did growl this time. “What do you know?”

Shikamaru shook his head as looked back to the sky. “I don’t need to know anything.”

Almost loosing his control, Neji decided then and there that he was going to ignore the Nara next to him. On top of that, he hated the boy. He acted all high and mighty with the way he talked. To add to that, he played with Neji’s words and twisted them to make him sound like an idiot. He did not like this boy. Did not like him at all.

“NARA SHIKAMARU!!”

“Shit!” Shikamaru stated suddenly, sitting up straight. Neji jumped slightly at the other’s exclamation, looking over at the Nara.

“Damn it, Yoshino! Don’t yell!”

“Well, what do you suggest, Shikaku? The boy’s not anywhere!”

Shikamaru turned towards Neji and had a panicked look in his eyes. “Hide me! Please, I’m begging you!”

Neji glared. “Why should I?”

“Because if you don’t I’ll be dragged all over Konoha looking for a potential future spouse!” Shikamaru stated.

Neji frowned and looked back at the water. “I see no reason to.”

“I’m begging you,” Shikamaru pleaded, kneeling down in front of the Hyuuga. “Please!”

Staring at the other for a moment, Neji sighed. This was the first real movement the other boy had made since he had shown up. His mother must be a frightening person. Standing up quickly, he grabbed the Nara’s hand before he began to pull him down the hallways towards his room. Shikamaru kept looking behind them nervously. Neji couldn’t blame him. He himself would not want to have to deal with marriage proposals until he was of age for them. Even then, he was sure he’d hate the idea.

Opening the door to his room, he threw the Nara inside before sliding it shut, pressing his ear against the door. Sighing softly he walked away from the door to find Shikamaru simply staring at him. “They are not coming this way.”

Shikamaru sighed. “Thank you.”

“Hn,” was Neji’s response. Shaking his head, he walked over to the closet in his room before he pulled out one of the various books he was reading. He walked over to his bed and sat down, leaving enough room for Shikamaru to sit down should he decide to. Instead, the Nara decided to explore his room, his eyes scanning the room curiously.

“Not much decoration,” Shikamaru stated. “Kind of bland in here.”

Neji bristled. “I am not often in here so decorating it seems pointless.”

Ignoring the other’s heated stare, Shikamaru made his way over to the open closet. He slowly looked through the books, looking at them with a bored expression before he moved on. A wooden box caught his attention and he reached forward for it. “What’s this?”

Neji’s eyes lifted up to look at what the Nara meant and they widened. “Please don’t touch that!”

Shikamaru retracted his hand immediately and looked over at the other in confusion. “Sorry?”

Neji sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I-It’s special…I’d rather you didn’t…touch it.”

Shikamaru stared at him for a moment, before he shrugged and made his way over to the bed. “No biggie.”

Suddenly the door slide open, making both boys jump. Shikamaru cringed when he saw who was there, while Neji’s eyes went to his bedspread before he respectfully stood to his feet.

“Found you, you lazy little rat,” Yoshino smirked.

Shikamaru sighed. “Technically, I’m sure it was Lord Hiashi that found me, mom.”

Both Hiashi and Shikaku smirked as the woman bristled. “Don’t talk so rudely to me!”

“I apologize for delaying your leave,” Neji stated calmly, bowing low. “I simply…wished to show Nara Shikamaru my room.”

Shikamaru sent a shocked, yet appreciative look his way, but Neji ignored it.

Yoshino looked over at Neji and beamed. “Well, aren’t you polite? You should take lessons from this boy, Shikamaru.”

Neji let a slight blush cover his cheeks, but kept his face as stoic as ever. Shikamaru sighed and waved his had dismissively. “Yeah, yeah.”

“I would hate to deter you any further,” Hiashi interrupted. “I’m sure there are other families that would be very interested in looking at your son.”

“Oh, we only have a few more,” Yoshino said sweetly. “Come along, Shikamaru.”

Shikamaru sighed yet again and turned to the Hyuuga. “Thanks anyway.”

Neji merely nodded and watched as the boy left with his parents, rather grudgingly. Hiashi stood at his door for a moment before, making Neji uncomfortable. “Is there something I can do for you, Lord Hiashi?” He refused to call this man uncle any more than he had to.

There was a twinge of hurt in Hiashi’s eyes before he let out a soft sigh. “No, Neji. You’re free to return to the activity you were doing before.”

“Thank you,” Neji said, bowing respectfully, glaring at the floor. With nothing more to say to his uncle, Neji returned to his bed and picked the book back up, fully intent of loosing himself inside of it. Hiashi looked at him for a few moments before shutting the door, leaving the young Hyuuga to ponder silently over the boy he had met today. Nara Shikamaru…He was definitely someone that Neji did not like very much.
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