My Little Choji-kun

2. Life moves ahead


The dark haired Jounin undid his ponytail as he set the tray of food on the low table before his friend. Choji looked upset, and the other didn’t need to be a genius to figure out that his problem was more than the funeral this morning.
The brunet decided to let the chuunin tell him in his own time and he sat across the table and motioned his chopsticks at Choji.
“Eat Choji. You have to keep up your strength.” He said as he poked his own bowl of rice.
Choji speared a piece of pork and held it before his face; he looked the piece over and made an observation. “You cut my meat very small, don’t you?” he asked his friend.
Shikamaru looked up and eyed his friend carefully. “You eat so fast, I’m afraid you’ll choke. I cut it smaller.” He admitted.
“I like when you do that. It’s like you mother me.” Choji said, putting the pork into his mouth and chewing it carefully. Shikamaru watched him until he had swallowed the bite and then continued on his own meal.
Once the meal was finished, Shikamaru gathered up the dishes and headed for the kitchen, intent on cleaning them so he could get to bed. Choji sat in the place he had eaten and was soon lost in thought. When he had finished cleaning the plates, Shikamaru returned and found Choji still there. This was too much.
“Choji? Is there something on your mind?” he asked sitting opposite his friend again. Choji looked up, his eyes filled with concern.
“Nara, you and I are friends, right?” he asked. The dark haired Jounin stared at his friend surprised by the use of his family name.
“Yeah, Choji. Best friends. You can tell me anything, ask me anything.” He assured the chuunin.
“Well, I am counting on that.” He began. “After the first Chuunin Exams. When you were the only one to pass, I was feeling real bad. Not for you, you know because of my mother. Well, I kind of learned this new Jutsu. I was experimenting while I was healing from the whole ‘go get Sasuke’ trip. And I perfected it. Now, I only use it when it’s been real bad, and I can’t go on. I think you should know about it, cause I’m feeling like that right now.”
Shikamaru watched his friend’s features waiting to see what his next move should be. Choji sat quietly, lost in his own insecurities once more. A gentle hand on his folded ones drew his eyes to the locked gaze of Nara Shikamaru.
“Choji, I love you like no other. Don’t ever be afraid to tell me anything. If you need this, and it causes you no harm, than I don’t care. Do you want to tell me more?” and he smiled.
Choji drew a deep breath. “I call it Baby no Jutsu. I guess that’s kind of like Naruto’s special trick, but I think it fits. It goes like this . . . .” and he continued to explain, his audience patient and understanding, just as he had hoped.

July second. Tomorrow Hyuuga Neji would be nineteen. He had been wished a happy day by his family and most of his friends.
It was strange how all these things seemed pale and unimportant. Neji only had one birthday wish, and it wasn’t going to be packed in a box and wrapped in shiny paper.
He had moved into his own apartment this week and all of those presents were piled on a table in his new living room, waiting for him to open them tomorrow.
He stood near the ramen stand and waited for the face he was dreaming of to arrive. Today was his emancipation, and along with his freedom, Neji wanted something else.
Today he would take a step towards that dream, also.
Shikamaru and Choji walked down the street, talking about a mission that was to take them away for several weeks. There were plans to be made and packing to do. This would be the last time they would be able to go to the ramen stand, and they laughed happily as they approached.
Neji was watching them arrive and as they closed on the stand, he stepped out from the shadows. Choji jumped in surprise, but Shikamaru merely sighed.
“Don’t go around jumping out at random times, Neji. Some people might take offense.” He said as he pushed Choji into the stand ahead of himself. Neji smirked and followed them.
They all sat down and gave their orders waiting patiently for the man to hand them their food. Neji looked at the not so chubby chuunin on the seat between them and then up at Shikamaru.
“Did I hear that you are going on a mission?” Neji asked. The Jounin genius sighed as he answered.
“Yes. We have to take a scroll to the hidden mist then take their answering scroll to the Sand. After that, we have to intercept Naruto and Sasuke on their way home and we will be traveling to the Wave country. It is a long mission. That’s why we were so worried about what to pack. And you?” he asked, politely.
“I have to unpack and settle in. I have been given two weeks leave from missions for this. Will you be back before then? I was hoping to invite you to see my new place.” Neji looked as composed and unconcerned as he could, while his mind was reeling.
“Probably not. We were figuring about three and a half weeks. Sorry.” Shikamaru said.
“Why don’t you go tonight, Shikamaru?” Choji suggested, feeling the tension of his presence from the Hyuuga heir. “I can do some packing and then you can finish when you get home.” He continued. Shikamaru turned to him and concern was evident in his eyes. Neji bristled slightly at the sight.
“Are you sure? Do you need me to do anything tonight?” he asked. Choji shook his head, and finished his bowl, licking his lips and wiping his hands.
“I can handle it. I am full, I will go home now.” And the last Akimichi stood and headed out of the stand.
”Choji. You hardly ate anything. Are you sure?” Shikamaru called to his back. Choji turned and nodded. He would give his friend this night. It was the least he could do for the man after the last two months they had shared.

Shikamaru’s eyes followed Choji down the street before they turned back to the Hyuuga. Narrowing slightly they took in the body language the other thought he was hiding and addressed the actual request.
Neji wanted him to come to his new home.
NO, Neji wanted him - at his home.
Shikamaru smiled. “So Neji-kun, where is this new apartment?” and Neji smiled back.