The Choices Between Friends

Chapter: 25

 

Puppies and Puppy Luv

 

 

Neji had to work. That's why he wasn't with them. He had obligations that he had to uphold. Leaving Nara's apartment had been particularly difficult, especially with the knowledge that Kiba and Nar would arrive there barely an hour after he'd had to leave. Nara had hugged him lightly at the door.  Neji had promised that he would call them after his class was over.

 

He couldn't be with them at all tonight or tomorrow. He had an early class and tomorrow was his heavy day. He would be in class from seven am until after five pm. Pale hands gripped the steering wheel tightly and he grits his teeth while he fought off the urge to turn around and go back to them. 'No. You can't and you know it.' Neji chided himself for suck foolishness. They would be fine without him and he did have obligations.

 

That was what irked him the most. He had obligations beyond school or teaching at the dojo. Neji wouldn't get to see his boyfriends tomorrow night either. He had already agreed to take his cousin shopping. Shizune would have it all arranged by now. The car would show up with Hinata almost the moment his last class ended. These outings never ended quickly.

  

Neji's night would be filled with stores, dinner, Hinata, and one of her annoying friends. It really would have been far more tolerable if it was just his cousin, but the girl was never without one of those insufferable tag-a-longs. He would spend the night being courteous, helpful, and cold as he ignored the advances of yet another spoiled little brat.

 

He sighed as he pulled into his parking space behind the dojo. There was one bright spot in his night. He could stay after class and spar with Kakashi for an hour or so. That had always been one of the few pleasures he'd had to look forward to.

 

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Akamaru was coming home after two weeks at Hana's clinic. Kiba was excited. He'd missed his four-legged best friend. He stopped off at Nara's long enough to drag his friends down the stairs and throw them in his car. Nar was laughing like a fool as he was tossed into the back seat by a very impatient Kiba. Nara was just smiling. He was so glad that they could still just be themselves after everything that had happened in the last few days.

 

Chouji was going to meet them at Kiba's place. The dog lover had a night of movies and pizza planned to welcome Akamaru home. It was very hard to keep his foot out of the gas pedal as they headed to pick up his overgrown puppy.

 

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Class had been particularly tiresome. Neji and Kakashi demonstrated several new techniques, and then spent the remainder of the time watching their students’ attempts at duplicating their actions. In the end, Kakashi had set a few of the more advanced students against Neji. This unfortunately included a very broody Uchiha. Sasuke was gifted, of that there was no doubt. 'If only his attitude wasn't so abhorrent,' Neji thought.

 

If that weren't the case, he might actually be able to tolerate Sasuke as a student, but the younger Uchiha was horrid.  He was snide and disrespectful to everyone, everyone except Neji. Neji did not acknowledge the deference that Sasuke showed him. By disrespecting the true master of the dojo, Kakashi, Sasuke negated whatever respect he offered to the man's student, Neji. It was astounding that the infantile Uchiha heir couldn't grasp such a basic concept.

  

What made it worse was that Neji knew what Sasuke wanted from him, even if he'd never acknowledged it. Every time the raven touched him under the guise of sparring, Neji's flesh crawled. Now that he'd found his lovers, it felt like a betrayal. Every compliment, every deferential act, every touch made Neji feel as if he were betraying them by not outright rebuking the man. Manners dictated that Neji not refute the man's desires until there was something stated more plainly, but this was cold comfort as the younger Uchiha offered him an admiring gaze and an almost sweet smile before exiting the dojo after all the other students had left. Neji felt ill.

 

He helped Kakashi-sensei put up the last of the gear. The older man let them work in silence for a while, just as they usually did. When Neji asked to spar, Kakashi merely nodded. "All out, but then we talk," Kakashi had heard the rumors and wanted to hear Neji's side of things. Neji nodded and they took their places on the mat.

 

After an hour and a half of trading nearly deadly attacks and counter-attacks, both men were breathing hard and drenched in sweat. The sound of a cell phone ringing out in a bright clear tone cut through the violent sound of blocked fists and kicks. Kakashi called a halt to things and didn't even pretend not to watch as Neji retrieved his phone from his bag. The younger man held the phone for a moment before biting his lower lip and looking at his sensei guiltily. "I told them I'd call after class," He explained uncomfortably.

 

"Them?"  Kakashi asked with the arch of a silver brow. His wild hair was sweat slick and his mismatched eyes were sharp and bright.

 

Neji straightened his shoulders and looked unblinking into one golden hazel eye and one dark brown. "I have taken lovers Kakashi-sensei. They are important to me."

 

Both of those piercing eyes widened in surprise. "Lovers, as in plural Neji?" The younger man merely gave one curt nod. "And just how many lovers does one young man need?"

 

"I cannot speak for anyone else Sensei, but I have found three amazing men, who I intend to keep as long as they will let me."

 

Kakashi thought for a moment then nodded absently as he turned to retrieve his water bottle. "I hope none of them is Sasuke. That one is far too high maintenance."

 

Neji chuckled slightly. "None," He didn't want to reveal too much just yet, not even to the man he trusted more than any other did

 

"They are all okay with sharing you." It was a statement. Kakashi knew Neji well enough to know his student would not willingly deceive anyone close to him. "And you are happy." That was not a question either, so Neji didn't bother to answer.

 

Kakashi was the most observant person he knew. The older man already knew that Neji was happier than he remembered ever being.  Neji gave his sensei a slight smile and turned to retrieve his own bottle of water. He flipped open his phone and dialed the last number his phone had received a call from. He was blessed with the happiest 'hello' he'd ever heard. "Tesoro, are you having a good evening?"

 

Talking to his lover with his sensei in the room was a mark of trust and respect for the older man that made Kakashi smile. Neji had grown into a fine young man. Kakashi trusted the boy to make good decisions and he wouldn't pry, not just yet. He left the main salon of the dojo quietly. Kakashi heard the joy in Neji's voice and was content to leave it at that for tonight

 

"Miss you," Nar blurted before he could stop himself from sounding needy. He cringed to himself as he stood on the back porch of Kiba's apartment looking out on the small yard

 

Neji was surprised in the best possible way. "I wish I could have come tonight. I miss you as well."

 

Nar exhaled loudly, relief tinting his words. "I can't believe I just said that! You didn't freak at all, did you?"

 

"No, Nar. I was flattered. And I missed you, the moment I left the shop with Nara today," It was all true.

 

"That's cool," Nar, breathed. Neji heard rustling and a knocking sound through the phone. He couldn't know it was Kiba flicking the vertical blinds on the sliding glass door back to flip Nar off. The blond returned the gesture with a grin. "Kiba sends his love," He said offhandedly.

 

"I truly doubt that is the first thing that comes to the 'devil's' mind when he thinks of me," Neji let out a dry chuckle. Nar echoed it warmly.

 

"Yeah, well... ya' know..." Nar rubbed the back of his neck unconsciously. "So you've got family stuff tomorrow. That sucks for us, but it's cool."

 

Neji didn't want to talk about that. "What are you doing?" He countered

 

"Right now? Um, hiding from Nara," The blond answered in a very cagey voice.

 

“May I ask why?”



“I put sugar in his tea…?” It almost sounded like a question, as if the blond was asking Neji if he’d buy that excuse.



“Tesoro?”



“What? He really hates sugar in his tea!” Naruto defended loudly. Neji didn’t know if it was because Nar was so easy to read or because he was coming to know the other man, but he certainly didn’t believe the imp’s reason.



“Nar? Are you sure that that is the reason?”



“Um, no,” Naruto said sheepishly. Neji just waited.



“All I did was mention, ‘cause ya’ know he was talking about the new guy at the shop, and well I’ve kinda sorta wanted to um, get a nipple piercing,"  It all came out in one babbled rush. "And Nara just went off! He was the same way when I wanted to get a tattoo! I mean, sometimes it’s like I’m five and he’s not!” Naruto huffed, or tried to. At least this time Nara had given him a reason.



“You’re so handsome without it. It’s like messing with perfection. All it’ll do is damage your beauty, not enhance it,” Nara had whispered when Nar had gotten up to stalk out of the room. Naruto almost didn’t hear him. He’d slipped out onto the porch and felt an overwhelming urge to call Neji. He just needed to get his mind on something else for a bit. 'That just worked brilliantly, now didn't it?!' The blond laughed at himself.



Neji was stunned silent. He could not imagine that perfect body marred in such a way. 'It would cheapen him.' That was his first thought. The second was how very much he did not want to be in the middle of an argument between any of them. He had no idea what to say.



“Neji? You still there?”



“Did he give you a reason for his objection?”



“Um, well…. Sort of. I don’t think I was supposed to hear it though..”



“Then I won’t ask what it was."



“It’s okay,” Nar took a shaky breath. "He pretty much said I was perfect without it. He whispered it really softly,” Nar was biting his lip and swirling his bare toe around in a pile of dirt just off the porch.



“He’s right,” Neji agreed in a very quiet voice. “I couldn’t image anything marring such perfection. It would be like painting graffiti on David’s statue.”



Nar was blushing and felt unaccountably flattered. The two best-looking men he knew thought he was perfect. 'Cute, maybe… but beautiful or perfect?' It was really overwhelming. “Wait? Who’s David?”



Neji bit back a chuckle. Nar was so fresh and sweet and beautifully unaware of how happy his ignorance made Neji. He didn’t want to hurt the blond’s feelings through a misunderstanding. “Michelangelo’s statue of David.”



“OH! I’ve seen pictures of that in art class. I took three years. I suck at it, but I loved my teacher. Iruka is awesome. We’re still friends!” Naruto was amazed at how happy it made him to be able to tell Neji about Iruka. Iruka was a very special person to him. The only older friend he had that hadn’t come to him through Kiba, Nara, or Chouji.



"He sounds very nice. I'm glad you had a teacher that you bonded with," Neji was sincere. His voice jarred Nar from his thoughts. He would have to take the drawings Neji had done of him and the others in to show Iruka. Nar just knew then that the older man would love them.  



"Yeah, he's great. Maybe you could meet him sometime..." Nar prayed that he didn't sound too hopeful or needy, or any other bad thing when you'd only been dating an amazing guy for like a week.



Neji bit his lip to keep his smile from becoming too wide. He'd met Nara's parents and Kiba's entire family. He'd even met Chouji's father. It would only be right if he met someone close to Nar and who that was could be entirely up to the adorable blond. "When?"



Nar jumped up and down for a minute trying not to squeal like a girl. He'd never introduced anyone to Iruka. 'This is so cool!' "Um, let me call him and see when he's free. Would you mind it if I showed him the drawings you gave us? I think he'd really like that."



"They aren't mine. What happens to them is up to you and the others Tesoro," He was flattered that Nar liked the pictures so much. A hint of mischief entered his own smooth voice. "Perhaps he'd like the one I drew of you the other morning. I still have it in my book...."



Nar gasped. "Neji! He's practically my uncle or something! Man that's soooooo wrong!" Neji laughed at his lover's incredulous tone.



Kakashi heard the bright clear sound. 'He sounds just like HER.' He couldn't help the peek and was glad he'd given in to temptation. Neji didn't see him; the boy was picking his bag up from a bench. The boy's face was so alive and unguarded. He still looked like himself, only better. It was a purer version of Neji, without the mask filtering his thoughts from the world. 



"You're just bad Neji, a very bad man!" Nar teased with a definite pout in his voice.



His lover changed the subject. "Shouldn't you stop hiding now? It's sure to hurt Nara's feelings. Even I can see how much he cares for you."



Nar smiled. "Yeah, I love him too Neji," The smile in his voice brightened. "Give me time and I'll love you just as much. I know it." 



Neji dropped his bag from nerveless fingers. "I hope so Nar. Darling, I really do," His words were a breathless whisper.



"Uh oh!  Busted..." Nar groaned when an evilly smirking Nara rounded a shadowy corner and stepped into the porch light. The blond blushed beautifully. "It's not nice to eavesdrop Nara!" He yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at his friend.



Nara laughed. "Love you too, ya big softy," He was grinning. It had been so difficult, no impossible to admit the way he felt for all these years. 'I think we just needed Neji.'



Nar pouted. "Neji!  He's being mean to me."  Naruto tattled into the phone.



"It sounded like he told you he loved you, Tesoro. How exactly is that 'mean'?"



"Yeah, but you can't see his face! He's grinning, and laughing, and...umph" There was a new rustling noise as Nara closed the distance between himself and Nar. The plump rosy lips were captured, parted, and plundered. 



"No nipple rings," Nara ordered as he pinched a pert nub through Nar's T-shirt. "Neji agrees with me, doesn't he?"



"You listened all this time?!" Nar groaned, still breathless from the kiss.



"Nope, just heard the 'love' bit. Just had an idea he'd agree with me. 'Cause I'm right. And I just knew you'd have to tell him about it."



Neji bit back a groan at the lust lacing Nara's voice. He didn't need to see them. He had heard the breathless quality to Nara's voice and his mind supplied plenty of images of the two together. Nara took the phone from Nar's listless hand. "Miss us yet?" He asked Neji as he pulled their blond closer.



"Immensely," 'And more with each word.' Neji admitted to himself.



"Good. Then we get you the day after tomorrow, as much time as you can manage, got it?" Nara insisted.



Neji laughed softly. "Yours to command Beleza. You need only say when and where." 



Shikamaru growled at him. "No orders Neji. Just us together. That's all we need and all we want," Neji laughed a little louder.



"Take care of him tonight. I don't care about the rules and I'm sure Kiba won't mind either. He needs you. You need to make him feel special." 



Nara almost choked. "But Neji?!"

 

He was interrupted. "No arguments. I would like to talk to Teufel now, if that's alright?"



Nara sounded almost crestfallen. "Oh, okay Neji," He kissed Nar on the forehead and began to maneuver them into the apartment. "Kiba! Neji wants to talk to you."



"Lover boy? Bring me the phone, we're comfy," Kiba was sprawled on the floor with Akamaru's huge head on his legs. He couldn't have moved if he wanted to. 



"Nara?" Neji asked to be sure he was still the one with the phone. 



"Yeah, I gotta get the phone to Kiba, hold on," His voice was distant, almost sounding hurt.



"Will you do something for me?"



"Sure, Neji. What?"



"When you kiss him tonight, before you lose yourself in him. Think of me for just a moment."



Shikamaru bit his lip and fought back a sudden influx of confusing emotions. "O-okay Neji. I will. Here's Kiba," The phone was thrust into Kiba's outstretched hand and Nara grabbed Nar in a bear hug. "Man says just the wrong thing at the right time," He complained as he took a minute to pull himself back together. 



Naruto was stroking his back lightly. "Yup. We need him Nara. As much as he needs us I think," Shikamaru just nodded into a strong shoulder.



Kiba watched for a second to be sure they were okay. "Aren't you just the master of disaster? Stop making them freak out. It's gonna upset my puppy and then you're really gonna be in trouble Neji," His tone was a mix of teasing and growling. 'Neji should not have this much of an effect on those two, not yet anyway.' Kiba was starting to worry, just a little.



"I didn't mean to upset them. I only told Nara that I would like him to spend some 'time' with Nar tonight. I think they need it. Do you object? It is against the rules," Neji was walking toward his car now. He'd waved his goodbye to Kakashi while he waited for Kiba to speak.



"Never been much for rules in the first place Neji. I don't care what they do. The only rule that matters to me is the 'no outside people' one. Breaking that one will get ya' injured," Neji rolled his eyes. It was dark, no one could see.



"How is your 'puppy' by the way?"



"Akamaru? He's happy to be home," It pleased Kiba that Neji would ask about Akamaru. The animal meant more to him than most people. "You'll have to meet him soon. I hope he doesn't decide to eat you... That would be a very bad thing. Can't really date anyone my dog doesn't like. It gets messy," He sounded very tired and a little spacey.



"Messy?"



"He's huge Neji. His head is bigger than mine is. If he takes a disliking to you, well... maybe 'bloody' would be a better word than 'messy'. Was tryin' to be polite."



"Polite does not suit you. Blunt and to the point are your most endearing qualities Teufel."



"Ha! I'll remember you said that. I'm tired Neji. I'm gonna let you go now. The other two are cuddling on the couch, so I think we'll let them be, K?"



"Good night Teufel. I will talk to you tomorrow."



" 'Night Pretty Boy. Dream about us," CLICK



Kiba finally shifted Akamaru off of his legs and coaxed the big dog into the bedroom. Akamaru sprawled across the bottom of the bed and Kiba let him. There really wasn't much he could do about it anyway. He flicked on the fan beside his bed and fell asleep with Akamaru's body heat warming his toes.

 

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"Nara?" Nar whispered wondering if his friend was still awake.



"Hmm?" 



"Do you think it's too fast?" Nar was curled against his side and Nara could tell by the way the muscles in the blond's back bunched and moved under his hand, Nar was not going to sleep anytime soon.



"Probably, but who really knows. Is there some set time frame we should follow?"



"Yeah, like I'd know..." Nar giggled, trying to keep it light.



"Neji asked me to do something for him," Nara changed the subject.



Nar's head came up. "Oooh what?"



Nara pulled that gorgeous body on top of his with a sharp tug. He arched up, rolling his hips and grinding his groin into the one above him. "This."



Nar looked confused. "But, the rules... and why would he..." 



Nara smiled. "He doesn't care about the rules. He cares about us. He said we needed each other and it sounded like he and Kiba agreed."



Nar's perfect little mouth made a pretty 'o' shape. Nara's hands slid over that amazing ass and kneaded the muscles there. Nar bit his lip as his eyes slid closed. "I love you Nara Shikamaru, I really do." 



Nara shuddered at the admission. "I adore you Naruto Uzamaki. I need you," That was the perfect thing to say. Their lips met and they melted into one another.

 

Naruto rolled his hips as his tongue tangled with his lover's. Shikamaru moaned beneath him and the blond's mind went blank. That moment of distraction gave the brunette a moment to collect himself. His tattooed arms wrapped around Naruto's back and hugged him tightly. Their mouths parted and each gazed awestruck into the eyes of someone he had loved for years, but never really felt he could hold this way. Tears puddle in the pretty sapphires. Crystalline droplets fell onto Nara's cheeks as he gazed up into a storm of emotion brewing in Nar's eyes. A long fingered hand stroked the scarred cheek. "I'm sorry it took me so long." He whispered brokenly.

 

Nar captured his hand and kissed his palm. "It's okay. I was a chicken too." He smiled as he rested his head in his lover's hand. "I really think it's true. We needed him."  Shikamaru nodded hesitantly. "I really want to keep him Nara. I... just know he needs us, and... I...”

 

Shikamaru put his other hand over Nar's soft lips. "We'll do what we can. Let's not borrow trouble Nar, let's just be happy tonight, okay?"

 

More tears slipped down the cheeks and into his hand as Naruto nodded. Nara sat up as much as he could with Nar on top of him. 

 

The promise was kept. They both thought of Neji before they surrendered to the passion for each other. Both wished he was there to see and watch them together. 



Kiba slept through it all. Between the fan and Akamaru's snoring, it would have taken an earthquake to wake the rowdy brunette. He'd have been grateful for that, if he had known.

 

 

~TBC...