Snow-white dishonour.

I still need a beta for this one, please leave a review if you want to help my poor English skills =/ Anyway, this chap is only Shikamaru Neji friendship, sorry, but it’s needed for the rest of the story.

Warnings and disclaimer is in the first chap.

To Hestia, thank you!


On with the story then. R&R? Or at least rate?

Shikamaru was lying on his bed, reading. But not really seeing the words. He was all set for tomorrow’s mission and had already dealt with all of his mother’s concerns. The fact that he now knew why she was so overprotective and nagging didn’t change the fact that he hated it! And he had other things to worry about too… But he had fixed everything up and was packed and ready to leave at dawn. Just because he was lazy didn’t mean that he wasn’t a perfectionist. He was startled from his thoughts by a soft tap on the window. He was shocked to see Neji and quickly opened the window to let him in.

“Neji! What are you doing here? How long have you been back, and why aren’t you at your home?”

“I have to talk to you…”


Shikamaru was more than a little shocked by the sound of Neji’s voice. He sounded almost scared…. He sighed and let Neji sit down beside him on the bed as he lay back down, arms behind his head.

“So what is it?”

“Shikamaru, you can’t tell this to anyone, promise me?”

“You know that I won’t, so spill.”

“I’m in love…”

“How troublesome for you, but why is that so secret?”

“It’s because of who I’m in love with… Rather, who HE is…”

“He??? You’re telling me that you’re in love with a guy?!? How very troublesome!”

“I think that troublesome is an understatement…” But the characteristic Shikamaru answer had put a faint smile on Neji’s lips and he was feeling somewhat easier at heart.

“If you’re going to say Lee, I’m going to kick your ass, even if it means that I have to get of the bed.”

“Easy Nara, I wouldn’t want you to over do your self. No, it isn’t Lee, even though that would have meant fewer problems.” Neji ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Remember the examiner from the third exam?”

“Sure, Genma, but what has he… Oh…”

“Yeah ‘Oh’… That’s him… What should I do Shikamaru? I really like him, and being with him makes me feel as if I am someone, not just the protector of Hinata-sama. The way he looks at me, the way he touches me…” Neji’s cloud-white eyes seemed lost in the distance.

“You’re telling me that he feels the same way? And that you have… You know…”

“He says he feels the same, but no, we haven’t… I’m not legal yet… Unlike you…”

“Me?!? What are you saying? I’m one year younger than you.”

“Yes, but you’re a chuunin now. According to a pretty unknown law, you are legally an adult now. Genma told me and I checked it up, it’s true. But to get back to me and Genma, even if I was, even when I become, there’s still my clan to deal with. I doubt that my uncle will be thrilled by the news…”

Shikamaru sat up and scratched the back of his head as he tried to wrap his mind around this new situation.

“For once I can’t seem to have an answer Neji. All I can say that you better be sure that he’s worth it before you risk everything for him. And see to that you become a chuunin at the next exam. Hey, if I’m an adult now, does that mean that I can move out of here?”

Neji laughed and shook his head.

“Is it really that bad to have parents?” He asked softly, he couldn’t remember what it was like really.

“I’m sorry Neji. But at times, at least with mine it is… You know… I found out why my mum is such a pain… I should have had an older brother… He died when he was just six months, no one knows why. But dad says that’s why mum wants to know my every move, but it’s getting troublesome…”

“You really do use that word to much, it loses its meaning you know.”

They laid down beside each other and stared at the ceiling.

“Is it really ok with you that I’m with Genma?” Neji whispered after a while.

Shikamaru shrugged.

“I don’t care who you’re with as long as you’re happy and you don’t turn into another Lee or Ino or Sakura. What’s it like? To be in love I mean, I’ve asked my dad, but he gives me so weird answers.” Shikamaru rolled over on his side so that he could look at Neji.

“I don’t know if it’s something that could be explained, or analysed. It’s just something that is. I just know that I want to be with him all the time I can, and that I shiver at the mere thought of him touching me. Everything reminds me of him and I’m constantly worried about what he thinks of me and about his safety.”

“I must say that love sounds like too much trouble for me… But I guess that I’ll fall some time too. But right now I have a mission to focus on and then try to help you find some way around your fanatic clan…”

“You’ll do that?”

“Of course I will, because I think that even if you don’t stay with Genma who ever you’ll choose to spend your life with will be a guy, and that’s something we have to find a way to get them to accept. But as I said I have to go on a mission in the morning so it will have to wait until I get back.”

“Where are you going? And is it your whole team?”

“I’m going with Kakashi-san to transport some scrolls to the water country. Sounds like a drag, but at least I’ll get out of the village for a while.”

“Kakashi? He’ll probably know about me and Genma too… He’s Genma’s best friend.”

There was a long silence until Neji sat up and got of the bed.

“I have to go now, I want to stop by Genma before I go home too and you’ll need your sleep.”

“Neji.” Shikamaru didn’t even look at the Hyuuga.

“Yeah?”

“Be careful… You know what your uncle could do to you if he wanted. I don’t want to return to find you dead.”

“You won’t, I promise.”

With that Shikamaru was left with his own thoughts again. A part of him felt jealous at Neji, to be able to find that some one that you just belonged with. He wanted that too, even though he was highly unsure about this whole love thing. But to be respected and treated as a someone as Neji had said, that sounded nice…

As his mother knocked on the door an hour later and demanded that he should brush his teeth and go to bed, he decided that he REALLY should look into the possibility of getting a place on his own once he got home again…