Sign Me Yours

About two hours later, Neji was biting his lower lip in concentration; Shikamaru was good at this, very good. Gazing up at his opponent a little, Neji had to admit to himself that chances that he would win were starting to look slim.

Shikamaru studied the board for a bit before placing a stone and blocking off more of Neji's pieces.

Sighing, Neji removed those of his stones that had no more liberties. Studying the board some more, he placed a stone down, slightly annoyed that he couldn't block as many pieces as Shikamaru could in one move.

Shikamaru studied the board again then shrugged, sitting back a bit. "Pass," he said, scratching the inside of his ear with his pinky finger. He really didn't see the point of playing much more; they'd been at it for over two hours now.

Sighing, Neji looked at the board as well before deciding it wasn't worth continuing; Shikamaru was completely winning.

"Pass," he nodded in agreement, before looking up at the younger boy. "Congratulations."

Shikamaru gave another shrug and glanced down at the board for a minute before smirking. "I only won by three points," he said. "It was a close game."

Neji frowned, he could have sworn Shikamaru had won by more, but he wasn't going to argue. "Next time I'll beat you," he just said.

Shikamaru chuckled, starting to clean up the Go stones. "Maybe you will," he said, voice half-teasing.

A small amused smile grew on Neji's lips as he helped cleaning up the Go stones before taking it all and putting it back in place where he had found it.

"What do we do now?" he asked, sitting back down on the bed.

"You getting hungry?" Shikamaru asked, realizing it was past noon already.

Thinking a little, Neji inclined his head. "...a little, I suppose," he admitted.

"Do you want to chance venturing out, then? Or continue to avoid the public for a little longer?"

"...I'd like to avoid going public yet..." Neji looked a little troubled. "I... wouldn't want Hiashi-sama to find out from rumors..." Last time that had happened, rumors were going around town about him and Tenten dating, which they had not, and his uncle had heard of it. He had barely avoided being forced to marry Tenten 'because that was the only honorable thing to do' when he had 'deflowered' her, which, again, he had not done. He shuddered slightly at the memory. That had not been fun.

Shikamaru blinked, shaking his head. "I meant just... not going out to avoid running into Tenten or Ino," he explained. "But... yeah, I figured that." He knew enough about the Hyuuga Clan that dating was not taken lightly. Or anything for that matter.

"Oh..." Neji's cheeks was tinted a light pink at his mistake. Then he thought about it a little. "Well, I wouldn't want running into them either," he said after a while. He didn't know about the Yamanaka girl, but Tenten did have a knack for being irritable for a long time, even if she wasn't still angry, he would prefer not to confront her just yet.

"Alright," Shikamaru said with a nod. "Want to see if there's something to snack on in the kitchen then?"

"Sure." Neji nodded, before hesitating a little. "Are you sure that's fine? We can go out and eat if it's too much trouble?"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, scooting off the bed. "Would I suggest it if it was?" he asked before sighing. "If there isn't anything that's quick we'll go out somewhere."

"I was more thinking about your mother. I wouldn't want to offend her or eat all your food," Neji replied, getting off the bed as well.

"You're hardly eating everything," he said, waving a hand in dismissal as he made his way downstairs. "And even if you did, it's not like we're not used to it every now and then. The Nara's and the Akimichi's have been friends for a long time, after all."

"Ah... I see." Slightly amused at the thought of Chouji sitting in front of the fridge, stuffing his face, Neji followed him, hoping that Yoshino wouldn't be home. It wasn't that he disliked the woman, but as Shikamaru said, she was troublesome. Besides, he was certain that if she found out he was actually Shikamaru's boyfriend... well, she probably wouldn't like it. And she would tell his uncle.

Shikamaru walked into the kitchen, going over to the fridge and digging through it. He brought out a container of leftover chicken, hoping that his mother wasn't planning on using it for dinner tonight.

"Having your boyfriend over?" Shikaku's lazy drawl, that his son had inherited, could be heard as he leaned against the door-frame, watching the two boys raid the fridge, a smirk on his face. "Oi, Shikamaru, your mother was going to use that chicken for dinner," he added, noticing the red tinge in the other boy's face. If he wasn't entirely wrong, he assumed it was a Hyuuga.

Shikamaru heaved a sigh and chucked it unceremoniously back into the fridge, turning around to look at his dad. "Tch, 'tou-san, next time you hide your tasteless porn in my room, don't."

"Really?" Shikaku drawled, looking Neji up and down as if measuring him. "So that's why he's blushing like a sunset?" He chuckled, making Neji want to hide his face. Stupid old geezer!

"Shut up, old man, and go jack off to your porn," Shikamaru grumbled, grabbing Neji's wrist and dragging him out. "Come on, we'll just get something to eat out."

"Make sure to bring your boyfriend to dinner sometime," Shikaku called after him, amusement in his voice. "I'm sure your mother will want to meet him!"

"That..." Neji let himself be dragged along with Shikamaru, "was embarrassing."

Shikamaru sighed, letting go of Neji once they were away from his house. "Sorry, he's always like that."

"Ah, so... he doesn't really think that we are... I mean, we are, but..." he stopped, willing himself not to say another word to make an even bigger fool out of himself, willing his blush away.

Shikamaru shrugged. "He might now, probably does in fact, but really he just likes to embarrass everyone. Thinks it's his duty or something."

Neji sighed, hoping he wasn't getting in trouble for this, who knows what his uncle would do if he found out he wasn't only dating, but even going as far as date another boy. While he didn't see anything wrong about it, for once Lee was right, he didn't know how Hiashi would take it. He probably hoped of marrying him off sometime to breed more Hyuuga branch-members.

"So where do you want to eat?" the Nara asked, changing the subject.

"As long as it isn't ramen." Neji gave a small smile. Naruto had, for some reason, sometimes popped up at his door-step after the exam and invited him out for ramen. Not that Neji minded, it was... sort of nice to have a, well, he supposed, friend, but there was a limit as to how many times he could eat ramen. "And as long as it's a nice place," he added.

Shikamaru chuckled and nodded, having the same experience with the blond as well as Chouji on occasion. "Well, what do you consider nice, then?"

"The barbecue we were at was acceptable," Neji said after a while, remembering how they had been tricked into meeting there. Come to think of it now, it was rather amusing. Especially now that they had paid the girls back.

"Alright," Shikamaru said with a nod. "We'll just go there." He smirked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "And if the same waitress is working, maybe we can get a free meal again."

Snorting slightly, Neji shook his head amused, but followed him. Unfortunately, this time the waitress they had had last time wasn't there.

Shikamaru sighed and leaned back in his seat once they were lead to their table, already knowing the menu by heart from how many times he'd been there.

"Are you ready to order?" A black-haired waitress came over to their table, smiling at Shikamaru as she recognised him.

Shikamaru smiled back, remembering how she had always given a little extra food when they ordered another round for Chouji after a hard practice.

"Just the usual for me. Except... a normal, one-person portion," he said.

"I'll have whatever he's having," Neji nodded to Shikamaru, not having decided on anything yet. Besides, he was not very picky with his food as long as it tasted good.

"Alright." The waitress smiled brightly, winking at Shikamaru, making Neji frown faintly.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't say anything, staying quiet and just relaxing back in his seat.

Neji looked out of the window again, just like he had last time, glad the silence wasn't pressing like last time and he could relax as he did so. But, he decided to himself, he did not like that waitress.

Shikamaru watched him, glad it wasn't awkward this time around. Though they needed to find a different place to eat eventually because he knew he'd get sick of his place between this and his team coming here.

"Do you come here often?" Neji asked after a while, wondering seeing as it seemed the waitress seemed to be a bit familiar with the Nara.

Shikamaru smirked at the unintentional line and just nodded. "Yeah, Asuma-sensei takes us here after every successful mission and sometimes after a long, hard training day."

Neji nodded, feeling slightly confused. "Why would he do that?" he frowned. They most certainly did have no such habit in his team.

"It's in celebration of a job well done. Plus it motivates Chouji to do a better job when there's a free meal at stake," he explained, chuckling. "And it's just fun to hang out anyway."

Nodding again, Neji contemplated that. It obviously wasn't need for any motivation for his team, that was sure. Lee would always put his heart into everything he did, Tenten strived to become the next Tsunade, and he would always be pushed by his own expectations.

"Do you do anything special after missions?" Shikamaru asked, curious, leaning forward a little to rest his arms on the table.

Neji just shook his head, leaning back against his seat, looking at the Nara.

"My team is not as close as yours," he pointed out. It was rather obvious seeing as Shikamaru had his two best friends on his team.

Shikamaru shrugged, waving off that point. "Doesn't mean you can't become close," he pointed out. "Though, I can understand not wanting to be around Lee too much."

"You think I would go even if Gai-sensei treated us?" Neji raised an eyebrow. He could handle Lee outside missions, but both Lee and Gai? No, just no.

Shikamaru chuckled, putting his hands up. "Okay, point taken."

"They're double as bad when they are together," Neji sighed, knowing he had no choice but to endure it.

"Remind me to never be around when they are then," he said, smirking lightly. "You have my sympathy."

"Thanks," Neji replied dryly, resisting rolling his eyes. He was almost certain the other was just counting his luck that he wasn't on Gai's team with him.

Shikamaru sat back as the waitress brought their food and drinks over. He nodded his thanks and broke his chopsticks, starting to put the meat on the grill.

Staring at the waitress for any sign she was flirting with Shikamaru, Neji was relieved when she just left to attend other customers. Breaking his own chopsticks apart, he started putting the meat out as well.

Shikamaru set down his chopsticks, waiting for the food to cook, and took a sip of his tea.

"So..." Neji took a sip of his own tea, feeling a little awkward as he asked a question he felt like he should know. "What do couples do together?"

Shikamaru blinked then shrugged. "I haven't been part of a couple before either, remember? Well, I mean, there's some stuff, but..." he trailed off, blushing slightly.

Blushing lightly as he caught on to what the Nara was thinking about, Neji looked away from him.

Taking another sip of his tea, Neji coughed, trying to ignore the awkward silence.

Shikamaru fidgeted slightly, reaching over after a minute and picked up his share of the meat on the grill.

Doing the same, Neji put one into his mouth, trying to think of something to talk about. Unfortunately, Neji had never been one to talk much, and his social skills were untrained, so he couldn't find anything to talk about.

Shikamaru swallowed the food in his mouth before asking, "So is there anything you have planned later today?"

"No, not really. Why?" Neji looked up, putting some more meat into his mouth. Well, he had planned to wash the dishes, but... that could be done in the evening.

"No reason," he said, shrugging. "Just wondering if you have the whole day free or some prior engagements."

"No appointments," Neji shook his head before taking a sip of his tea.

"Are you good over here?" The waitress came over, just checking that their customers were content with the food and that there wasn't anything else they wanted.

"...yeah." Neji gave her a small glare as she was looking coyly at Shikamaru, batting her eyelids a little and twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

"Yeah, we're good, thanks, Kameko," he said, giving a half smile. He inwardly grimaced; she was a nice enough girl, just it got too annoying when like this, but at least she was a good worker.

"You sure you don't want something extra?" Kameko was clearly hinting to something else than what the barbecue itself offered.

Giving her another glare, Neji huffed softly before turning to look out of the window.

"No, thank you. I'm sure what I have right at the table will fill me quite enough," he said smoothly, understanding what she meant.

Blushing at Shikamaru's words, Neji stared intently out of the window, trying to find an interesting stone out in the street, willing his blush down. He had to admit he had no idea how... sexual intercourse, especially among men, was but he had an idea, especially after viewing that perverted book Shikamaru's father had put in his room.

"If you say so... but if you change your mind, just call for me," she winked at him before retreating, making Neji grit his teeth slightly.

Shikamaru vaguely acknowledged her last words before eating another chunk of meat, smirking lightly to himself.

"What are you smirking at?" Neji asked, giving him an almost-glare, taking another bite of the meat, internally deciding that they would never ever go to this place again.

Shikamaru chuckled, shaking his head. "Nothing, Neji," he said, relaxing against the seat's back again.

Narrowing his eyes, Neji huffed before taking another sip of his tea.

His smirk just widened before he reached forward and grabbed the last piece of his share of the food.

"Are we done here?" Neji asked, getting even grumpier at the annoying smirk on Shikamaru's lips. He wanted to leave this place as fast as possible, he decided.

Rolling his eyes, Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah, we can go," he said, taking out enough money for the food; like the menu, he'd memorized the prices as well.

Taking out his wallet, Neji looked up at Shikamaru.

"How much did it cost?" He asked, having not looked at the menu.

Shikamaru shook his head, standing up. "Don't worry about it. I had enough money."

Neji frowned, tilting his head. He hadn't protested last time, but only because they had put it on Ino's account.

"I can pay for myself," he said, slightly indignant, wondering if the Nara thought he couldn't afford a decent meal, and if that wasn't it... why would he want to pay for him?

Shikamaru sighed and fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You can pay the next time we go out," he suggested. "Let's just go."

Neji frowned, but got up and left with him, not going to argue, even though he still didn't get it.

"Why would you want to pay for me?" he asked after a while, keeping his voice low.

Shikamaru glanced at him, frowning a little. "Do I need a reason?"

"Why would you do something without a reason?" Neji raised an eyebrow, before pausing. "Is this part of what couples do? Paying for each other?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Yeah, but that's not why I did it. I wanted to; it was less troublesome."

"...right," Neji blushed lightly, looking away from him, wondering if he should bring up the waitress and how she had flirted with Shikamaru, but decided against it, figuring it would make him look jealous.

Shikamaru's lips curved into a smirk at the blush. It really was adorable.

Walking together in silence, Neji was busy trying to force his blush down, looking away from Shikamaru, hoping he wouldn't notice it.

Shikamaru inwardly sighed, fighting off the urge to reach over and grab the Hyuuga's hand.

Noticing Shikamaru glance over at him every now and then, Neji looked at him, noticing that something was troubling him.

"What?"

"Nothing," Shikamaru muttered, glancing away with a blush dusting his cheeks. It would be too embarrassing if he had to admit what he was thinking.

"Hn." Neji wasn't convinced, but he let it lay seeing the blush covering Shikamaru's cheeks.

His blush faded away quickly enough and he gave a half-smirk, realizing their legs had carried them back to 'their' spot.

Blinking, Neji quickly looked around before relaxing again.

"At least they're not here still," he said, not mentioning any names, but they both knew who he was talking about.

Shikamaru nodded, sitting down like usual. "Yeah. But I doubt they'd wait around here for hours on the off-chance we'd come back."

Nodding, Neji sat down beside him, feeling like skipping training for once. Just once; next day he would go back to his normal schedule.

"They could have been training though," he replied.

"Ino can't train if she's angry," he said, chuckling softly. "When she doesn't focus, she completely misses her targets and her special techniques won't work unless she's completely centered. Don't know about your teammates, though."

"Tenten's most likely to train until she drops when she's angry," Neji smirked. "Gets rid of tension and such. Lee was probably not upset though."

Shikamaru snorted and shook his head, not knowing why anyone would want to train until they dropped in any situation. Short of threats, that is.

"Could Lee even train? With... well, you know what happened."

"...officially, no," Neji sighed, closing his eyes. "He does it anyway. Sit-ups and push-ups and such."

"Idiot," he muttered, but there was hardly any contempt in his voice. As goofy and over-the-top and annoying and, well... everything Shikamaru avoided in life he was, he did respect Lee.

"Mnhmm," Neji nodded, agreeing but, like Shikamaru, not meaning anything bad about it. "I wonder how he and Chouji handled the girls after we left..." he mused after a while.

"Well... considering there's no blood on the grass here, I'd say it went as well as could be," Shikamaru said, smirking.

"Perhaps..." Neji's lips twitched slightly before he went silent, closing his eyes, feeling content laying there beside Shikamaru.

Shikamaru watched him for a bit, slightly surprised that he wasn't doing his own training. Not that he was going to say anything; that might get him to do so and leave him to just lie there alone. He smiled to himself as he settled back down into his spot, closing his own eyes and relaxing.

--

Opening his eyes with a start, Neji looked around, realizing he had fallen asleep outside in the training field. He relaxed again when he saw that Shikamaru was still there.

Shikamaru was still in a light sleep himself, stretched out slightly in the grass.

Sitting up, he noticed that his hair had become slightly messy from him laying on the ground. Neji looked over at the boy and scooted a bit closer to him, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he watched him sleep. He enjoyed watching him like that, even though it made him feel slightly perverted.

Shikamaru twitched slightly in his sleep, subconscious picking up on being watched, but he just continued sleeping.

Reaching out, Neji let his hands slide through the other's hair, feeling the coarse hair slide between his fingers before pulling his hand back.

Shikamaru stirred, blinking open his eyes and giving a yawn.

"It's getting late," Neji looked at the slightly darkening sky, knowing it was dinnertime at the Hyuuga compound tonight and that he had to attend it. "I should be getting home."

Shikamaru sighed, continuing to lay there for another minute before sitting up. "Alright; let's go then."

Getting up as well, Neji stretched, feeling rested. Maybe it had paid off skipping training for once.

Shikamaru stood up, doing the opposite of Neji and slumping forward a little, hands going his pockets like usual.

Walking in silence to his apartment, Neji did not look forward to dinner that evening. He still didn't get why his uncle required him to attend the family dinner at least once a week-- he was clearly not really one of the family.

Shikamaru stopped in front of the building, turning to look at him. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

Raising an eyebrow at him, Neji's lips tilted slightly into a light smirk.

"I don't know much about dating... but aren't you going to kiss me goodnight?" He asked, half-teasingly to cover his own nervousness.

Shikamaru blushed, eyes widening a little. "U-uh, y-yeah, okay," he said, doing a good impression of Hinata. He took a step closer to Neji and leaned up, tentatively covering his lips with his own.

Blushing lightly but feeling a little better knowing that he wasn't the only one who was embarrassed, Neji closed his eyes as he kissed him back. He was silently thankful there wasn't anyone out on the street at that moment.

Shikamaru let his eyes slide closed, deepening the kiss for a second before pulling back, face still flushed.

Blush deepening, Neji opened his eyes. "Good night then," he murmured, leaning forward, giving Shikamaru a short peck on the lips before he retreated hastily into his apartment, face pretty much red by now.

Shikamaru's eyes stayed on the closed door, lips slowly tilting into a smirk before he turned and started walking back home.

Noticing his heart had sped up a little, Neji made his way quickly up the stars to the door of his own apartment. Was he supposed to react like that to a kiss?