Fateful Nights

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters and I don’t make money with this.

Okay, this is the second part of Fateful Nights. I know that it took me forever to upload this but it was a real pain in the a**! Anyway, now it is up and I just wait for you to wring my neck ^_^ I also will put the answers to my reviewers at the bottom of the chapter. It think it’s easier to read that way. And that leaves me right at the beginning of chapter 2.

Enjoy!


“blabla” speaking
’blabla’ thinking

Chapter 2

Second Night – The House

It was the first real autumn morning, early in October. The air was crisp and clear, smelling of the first light frost in the night. Mist hung over the fields and the grass was wet from the dew. The sun, though at noon still warming enough for a lazy lunch out in the open, had lost much of its power. The leaves began to change color and the wind had picked up in strength, sending shivers down the spines of everyone.

Shikamaru had just come back home from a mission when his father called out to him.

“Oi, lazy-ass, come here for a moment, I need to talk to ya for a sec.”

Shikamaru grumbled a short ‘mendokuse’ under his breath before he joined his father in the kitchen where the elder Nara sat at the table, reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. Sitting down on a chair opposite and lighting a cigarette, Shika waited for whatever his father had to tell him. He didn’t need to wait for long.

“Remember what you asked me about a few weeks back? It’s finished. You can have it at soon as you want.” Somehow Shikaku seemed proud of himself.

“Hn, that was fast. I thought we couldn’t have it before spring next year but this is even better. Thanks, pops.”

Shikaku scowled at the ‘pops’ but let it slide this time because he could already see the knuckles and bolts inside Shikamaru’s head turning. That, and he was too happy at the moment. His hard work these past few weeks had been worth it and he was glad he could at least do something for his son.

“Can I see it?”

“Sure ya can. You know where it is. Take your time, kid.”

Now it was Shikamaru’s turn to scowl at the ‘kid’-remark. In the end, though, he just snorted and went out the back door. He really didn’t need to meet his mother.

Walking down a half hidden path through the thick foliage of the Nara forest, he soon came upon a big clearing. A wooden house complete with chimney and a porch that went entirely around it stood in the middle. A small streak made its way across the clearing behind the house.

Shikamaru snorted.

’What the heck? Are we in some kind of fairytale now? Put a few unicorns and fluffy bunnies into the picture and I swear I’ll puke. Tche, so mendokuse.’

Nevertheless he went over and inspected the woodwork. All was solid and really well done. He had to give that to his dad. If he started something he finished it perfectly.

’Must be from his side of the family then, where I got it from,’ mused the young genius.

After a thorough inspection of the house, inside and out, Shikamaru left again. He had something important to do.

~*~

At the Hyuuga compound, half an hour later.

“You…WHAT?!” An incredolous Neji Hyuuga looked at his lover, thinking he hadn’t heard him correctely.

“I built us a house, or rather I had my dad built us one.” Shikamaru lifted a slender eyebrow at the astonished look on his lovers face. Neji seldomly showed his feelings openly.

’Well, guess it isn’t everyday that you get asked to live with your boyfriend who built a house for the two of you.’

Neji still had a shell-shocked expression on his face but now there was a frown beginning to show, too. Turning around he started to pace the length of his room, talking quietly to himself. He did this a few minutes until Shika had enough and walked over to his agitated lover and stood in his path. Neji stopped a second before he collided with the Nara, looking up with a troubled expression now adorning his beautiful face.

Laying his hands gently on tense shoulders, Shikamaru pulled Neji to him.

“Stop that, it’s irritating me. If you don’t want to live with me you can just say so. I won’t get angry or anything like that.”

Neji closed his eyes, chuckling at the man that held him.

“And people say you are a genius.”

Pushing him a little bit away from him, Shikamaru looked at Neji with a puzzled frown.

“What do mean?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to live with you. Hell, there’s nothing more at the moment I’d rather do but did you, even for a minute, think about the repercussions? You know how our clan works. And I don’t think that the elders would be very happy if I suddenly decided to leave. That would mean they would lose their favorite toy and they cannot have that, now can they.”

Shikamaru sighed. His lover still did not seem to know him as well as he thought.

’Well, how should he, considering the mission and the weeks after.’

“Neji, do you really think that I would ask you to come and live with me if I haven’t already cleared everything up?”

Neji’s eyes went wide.

“What do you mean, ‘cleared everything up’? How? When?”

Shikamaru chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I just cashed in a few favors some people still owed me. And I did it during the last few weeks whenever I had the time. And by the way, your uncle and Hinata helped me a great deal. So did Sasuke. Maybe sometime in the near future you should go to them and thank them.”

Neji couldn’t believe it. Should it - could it really be that easy? It was almost too much to hope for. And yet here stood his lover - his wonderful, amazing, completely idiotic lover – and told him that, yes, it was that easy. Neji didn’t know if he should cry or hug Shikamaru to death. Since crying was out of question for a Hyuuga he proceeded with the hugging option. And kissing.

It was like an electric jolt that ran through both of them. It was the first time that they were kissing each other like that since their joined mission. Neji was pressing his lips against Shikamaru’s like he meant to devour him. His tongue stroking eagerly against the Nara’s one, sucking on it. Before, while Neji was still recupperating, the only kisses Neji had accepted were little, close-lipped, tender touches with no passion, only care in them. This was a whole new level and it send Shikamaru’s mind reeling and his heart started racing like he was on a high-profile mission in enemy territory.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, Neji pulled back and took a few steps away from Shikamaru. His silvery eyes were both passion-glazed and yet frightened at the same time. It seemed his mind was only now catching up with his body and immediately the fear was back.

Shikamaru watched his lover silently, taking in the slight shaking and the distressed look in his eyes. And he saw Neji’s silent apology and the shame for having to apologize in the first place.

Swallowing, Shika held out his right hand like he would to a frightened deer.

“It’s okay Neji. I understand. Please come back here. You know I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. Just let me hold you for a moment, okay?”

Taking a deep breath and fighting down the sudden panic that had threatened to engulf him fully, Neji walked back over to where his lover stood and took his hand. A gentle pull had him leaning against Shikamaru’s chest where he could hear the slow, steady beat of his heart. Minutes passed and Neji started to relax again. He knew that he could trust Shikamaru to the fullest and after weeks of constantly shying away from anyones touch, his body had finally started to accept the touch of at least the person he loved with all of his soul, as tainted as it may be.

Shikamaru, feeling that the trembling of Neji’s body had vanished and that his breathing had returned to normal, losened his hold on the warm body in his arms and looked into Neji’s eyes.

He didn’t have to ask if Neji was okay again, he could feel it.

“So, do you want to come and live with me? I know you probably want to think it over but … .”

Before he could continue he felt a slender finger over his lips, silencing him.

“I already told you, I want nothing more than to live with you. So stop asking stupid questions, it doesn’t suit you. When do you want to move into the house? And, by the way, where is it?”

“Hn, nagging already. And here I thought you would wait with that until we are married. But fine, I’ll tell you. It’s right between the two clan compounds, yours and mine. You know the forest that ends at the wall behind the Hyuuga’s western compound buildings? From there it’s only about half an hour on foot until you get to the house. So you will be in reach if necessary but we still have our privacy. It’s the same with the Nara grounds. And we can move in as soon as you are ready. I have already packed my stuff. Though I warn you, there is nothing in it yet. We’ll have to go shopping for furniture in the next few days.”

Neji, whose eyes had become the size of saucers when Shikamaru mentioned marriage, was already at his drawers and packing his clothes and other stuff before Shikamaru had finished speaking. Half an hour and two packed bags later he was done and turned to his lover who was sitting on his bed, watching him.

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

One slender eyebrow went up in an elegant and questioning arc.

“What? You said we could move in as soon as I’m ready. Well, I am.”

The eyebrow stayed arched.

Neji huffed.

“I didn’t lie when I told you that I’d be gone as fast as possible if I got the chance. I want to stay with you, be with you night and day. When I’m here, alone, I feel like I’m getting suffocated by the very air around me. I wake up at night, screaming, without you there to hold me and tell me that it was all a bad dream. I need you, Shikamaru. I love you.”

Shikamaru swallowed heavyly.

‘Damn, and he tells me all this and expects me to keep away from him. Some God up there must really hate me.’

“You know that right now I would like to do nothing more than kiss you senseless, right?”

Neji smiled.

“Yes.”

Shika snorted.

“Alright, let’s go. We have furniture-shopping ahead of us. Tche, mendokuse.”

Neji laughed and grabbed one of the bags while Shikamaru grabbed the other and together they made their way out of the compound.

Once outside of the main building where Neji’s room had been, they met Hiash Hyuuga. Neji stopped dead in his tracks, fearing that his uncle might stop him. He felt Shikamaru snake an arm around his waist.

“Uncle what can I do for you?”

Hiashi smiled. Just a slight curving of his lips but it was there.

“I wanted to wish you both the best and for you to know that if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

Neji and Shikamaru smiled and nodded before they turned to leave.

~*~

The further they went and the more they left the Hyuuga compound behind the faster would Neji’s feet carry him. It was as if with every step he took the part of him that had been drilled into being the perfect Hyuuga prodigy vanished, leaving behind a new person, someone who was free to decide his own fate and make his own choices. A laugh was bubbling up in him and he didn’t stop it from escaping. Why should he? Today a new life was starting for him. A life he would be sharing with the most amazing person he knew and loved.

Whirling around he shouted to Shikamaru who was already several paces behind him:

“I’m going ahead.”

Then he took off. The wind caught in his hair, spreading it out behind him like a banner. The sun, even if it was no longer burning with the heat of summer, shone into his eyes and brought a tinge of color to his otherwise pale cheeks.

And for the first time in his life Neji felt truly and totally happy. Not content or pleased but outright happy.

~*~

Two hours and a lot of money changing hands later the two shinobis sat totally exhausted in the BBQ place Shikamara, together with Ino and Chouji, liked to visit when they were younger. Neji was sipping some water, completely hoarse because of his – shall we say persistend – bargaining.

’The poor salesman’, thought Shika. ’He must be resigning his job right about now.’

Stealing one piece of meat from Neji’s plate, Shika took a look at his lover. Neji seemed to glow. He had heads turning after him whereever he went. The Nara’s mind still boggled everytime he asked himself what he possibly could have done to be gifted with such an amazing person as his lover. Not that he was complaining, far from it. But he was still not sure how all of this came to pass.

Neji, who had seen the contemplative look in his lover’s eyes, smiled amusedly. He could guess what went on in that clever brain and it amused him to no end that Shikamaru, who wasn’t only one of the three smartest people in the whole of Firecountry, but was also in the running for the position of the next main strategic adviser of Konoha, that the very same person could be so insecure about himself. Shaking his head and reaching across the table he tapped Shika on the tip of his nose, something ridiculous childish but today he just felt like it.

“Oi, Mr. Genius, earth is calling.” Neji laughed when the younger shinobi blinked.

“So, are you back with me or would you rather stay in that head of yours?” Shika snorted.

“Nah, I’m good. Let’s finish and go. The people with the furniture should be arriving soon.”

Neji nodded and together they paid their meal and left for their new home.

~*~

When they arrived at the clearing and Neji saw the house he felt at home right away. Opening the door and slipping inside he closed his eyes and took in every detail of the house. The smell of freshly cut pinetrees, the dust that was swirling around in the sunbeams coming through the windows, the creaking of the floorboards and the smell of a recently lit fire in the fireplace mad him feel like he was coming home. When he opened his eyes again Shikamaru was standing right next to him, watching him. Slowly slipping his arms around Neji’s waist from behind, hugging him, Shikamaru layed his chin on Neji’s shoulder and looked around.

“So, do you like it?” Neji shivered when Shika’s breath ghosted along the sensitiv ridge of his ear.

“It’s perfect.”

“No, you in here is what makes it perfect. Before, it was just a house like all others. Now, that you are here it’s a home.”

Neji turned around in his embrace and looked into Shikamaru’s eyes, his own serious.

“Do you mean that?”

Shika blinked.

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t say it otherwise.”

A brilliant smile lit up Neji’s face and he leaned in slowly to kiss Shikamaru.

Both their hearts were racing.

Slowly Shikamaru slipped out his tongue, tracing it over Neji’s. A small test. He held his breath.

And then, hesitantly and just as slowly, Neji opened his lips to the soft intruder.

Exhaling a shaky breath he didn’t know he had been holding, Shikamaru traced the hot cavern, relearning the taste and texture of Neji’s mouth. Dark chocolate and velvety vanilla blended together on his tongue and seduced his senses. Shikamaru felt like he floated a few millimeters above ground.

And just when he was about to end the kiss, Neji’s tongue shyly met his own with a short touch. Also like a test. They were both testing the waters, not only Shikamaru but Neji, too. Shika understood that Neji tried to find a compromise between them. A level of intimacy with which he was comfortable, that didn’t scare him into a panic-attack and something that he could give Shika with his whole heart without Shika feeling like he took advantage of him.

With a smile, Shikamaru ended the kiss and looked at his beautiful, strongwilled and brave lover. With a smile in return, Neji took his hand and together they made their way through the house, inspecting every room and deciding where bedroom and the ‘workingroom’ ,as Neji had put it, should be.

Suddenly, while they were standing in their soon-to-be bedroom, they heard a loud crash from the first floor. After a short look passed between them, they went down the beautiful wooden staircase. There was chaos in the mainroom. It seemed like a blond tsunami called Naruto Uzumaki tried to get into the house – at the exact same time as Chouji and all the others of the Rookie Nine. Now they were stuck and only a rather amused looking Sasuke Uchiha stood inside the room and watched the whole scene.

Again, a look passed between the two lovers.

Shika went over to the pile of human beings and studied it, trying to find the easiest way to detangle them. Slowly he helped with sorting out which arm belonged to whom and which leg to put where. After just a few minutes Chouji, the main obstacle, was freed. As soon as Chouji was gone, Naruto fell with an ‘oomph’ to the floor. Sasuke snickered quietly but went over to help his lover up. Still rubbing his abused behind, Naruto grinned at Neji.

“Well, hi there. We thought we could find you here. Nice house, by the way.”

Neji smiled. Yes, it was a nice house.

“And what brings you all here?”

Shikamaru, who was now standing beside his lover, had a quizzical expression on his face.

“We wanted to give you some ‘welcome gifts’. Nothing special, just some things you might need in the future. And we were, of course, hoping for a little party.”

Naruto looked from Neji to Shikamaru and back, looking much like a lost puppy, waiting for a treat. Now, if he would also wag his tail….

Neji shared a look with Shika and smiled. These were their friends and without them he wouldn’t be here, living and breathing. Shikamaru understood the look in his lover’s eyes and sighed.

“Oh for the love of … fine, have it your way. But don’t come to me afterwards and complain about the chaos they will leave behind. I’m not going to clean it up. Tche, mendokuse.”

Neji was positively beaming – well, at least for his standards – and went to hug the living daylights out of Shikamaru.

“Thank you, Shikamaru.” The softly spoken words tickled the Nara’s ear and left a shiver running up and down his back.

“Well, you could think about something to make it up to me,” he murmured back.

Neji took a small step back and looked Shikamaru into the eyes. A small mischivious sparkle told him that Shikamaru wasn’t pressuring him into some kind of sexual favour. Hm, maybe a nice dinner, just the two of them in their new home would be payback enough.

“I may have an idea or two.”

Getting lost in each others eyes, they totally forgot about their friends still standing in the doorway until Chouji cleared his throat.

“Hm, yeah… well, let’s get started. Don’t worry you two, we already have everything planned. Just relax and let us do all the work. It’s the least we can do.” And he sure as hell didn’t lie.

~*~

Two short hours later, a merry party was underway and the ‘welcoming gifts’ were stuffed into one corner of the room.

Neji and Shika were sitting on the couch, pressed together from shoulder to knees because of Naruto and Sasuke who had squeezed themselves in next to Shikamaru. Altough the couch was only made for two people.

Not that either of the two minded that much. Neji was hard pressed not to lay his head onto Shikamaru’s shoulder. Especially since he felt his eyes droop more and more the later it got.

Shikamaru, who watched his lover, smiled slightly.

’Stubborn bastard. As if it would hurt him to fall asleep with his friends surrounding him. Troublesome Hyuuga pride.’

Shifting a little bit, he leaned over to whisper in Neji’s ear.

“Why don’t we go upstairs? The guys will probably leave soon anyway.”

Neji shook his head and started to say something but a yawn stopped the words and he blinked sleepily. Shika chuckled. Neji jabbed him with his elbow in the ribs.

“Okay, fine you win but only this once.”

“Yeah, of course, love. Come on, let’s go.”

Together they stood up, making Naruto and Sasuke topple over.

Smirking, Neji held out a helping hand towards Sasuke who, of course, refused it and straightened on his own. Glaring down at Naruto, who was still half-way lieing in his lap, he ‘hmpf-ed’ and shoved Naruto off the couch.

“Get up, dobe. I want to go home.”

“Oi, you bastard. Why do we have to leave? There’s still some food left and the others are still here.” Pouting Naruto stood up from the floor and dusted himself off.

“Because, baka, Neji is almost falling asleep where he stands and it would be rude to stay longer.”

Naruto blinked – once, twice – and then he looked at Neji, his blue eyes a tad guilty.

“I’m sorry, Neji. We will leave now. I hope you have a nice first night in your new home. Sleep well, you two. We’ll see each other tomorrow. Mata ne!”

Sasuke just nodded his head as a farewell greeting and followed his boyfriend out of the door. The rest of the rookie nine followed suit and soon everyone had left and Neji and Shikamaru were all alone. Sighing, Neji glanced around and thought about the cleaning he had to do tomorrow. A hand on his shoulder made him turn around. Shikamaru leaned his head down until their foreheads were touching.

“Stop it. Don’t think about it now. Let’s just go to bed and sleep. Tomorrow we will deal with the chaos.”

Neji smiled.

“You’re right.”

Taking Shika’s hand he pulled him upstairs and into their new bedroom. Stripping down to his boxers and sliding underneath the sheets, Neji waited for Shika to join him. When he didn’t, Neji looked up and saw his lover standing next to the bed, watching him.

“Hey, what is it? Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just something I realized just now.”

“Oh? What is that? Getting cold feet already? If that’s the case then you have a problem because I won’t ever give up this house again. You’ll have to go back to your parents.”

Neji’s eyes were sparkling with silent laughter when he said that.

“No, it’s nothing like that. I just realized that you are the most amazing and beautiful person in the world and that I love you.”

Neji’s breath got lost between one intake and the next. Damn, that had come out of the blue and he didn’t know how to react to that.

“Shikamaru I… .”

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay. Just let me love you and stay by your side and everything is alright.”

“Oh…okay. But… .”

“Neji stop it, I… .”

“No, you stop, Shikamaru. Let me speak, damn it.”

Shikamaru shut his mouth with an audible snap. Damn the Hyuugas and their natural way of exuding authority.

“Thank you. What I wanted to say is … I love you, too. And I’m just as happy with you and I want to stay with you forever. And I want to kiss you. And I want you to come to bed, so get your scrawny ass in here.”

And who was he to resist? In an instant Shika was disrobing down to his undershirt and boxers and crawling into the bed next to Neji, stretching his lean form out and sighing in pleasure when he felt the soft linen.

Even softer hair tickled his bare arm when Neji leaned into him and gave him a short, sweet kiss. Snuggling down, his head came to rest on Shikamaru’s shoulder. Craning his head, the Nara gave a kiss to the dark haired head next to his and closed his eyes, ready to let sleep claim him.

Softly spoken words reached him just before conciousness left him.

“Thank you.”


~TBC~


Okay, this is definitely the worst chapter I’ve ever written. It’s corny and troublesome and it absolutely refused to be written. That’s why it took me ages to update. I was totally fed up with it *grr* I still hope you won’t shoot me after reading this. Please leave a review. That is the only thing that keeps me writing, right this moment.


Now, to my reviewers: since I’m no longer allowed to write more than 600 words in the AN I will put the answers to my reviews in the forum. The link is here:

http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/18674-review-answers-to-fateful-nights/