The Way Things Are

Thanks to everyone who quelled my fears about the whole forced marriage. ^_^ You guys are awesome!!

REVIEW REPLIES

AngelicChaos: I'm so glad that you love the story so far! Makes me incredibly happy. :D I don't mind people's input actually. ^_^ I prefer it. Sometimes it helps me get past a difficult part in the story. ^_^ I wasn't offended, so no worries there. ^_^ I hope you'll like this update.

Syake: Yes, the poor tree. It never did anything to Neji. lol There will be other pairings mentioned, but I don't know if any side stories will pop up like they did in SFALA. Guess I'll find out as I go. ^_^

PossessedMuse: Thanks for the vote of confidence! I really am enjoying this story as I write it. I love knowing how it's going to turn out and loving the way it ends. ^_^ I hope you'll continue to enjoy the story as well. ^_^

llyoung: You and I are the same when it comes to Shika/Neji. ^_^ Favorite pairing! I hope you'll like this chapter.

jess249: It's easy to mix them up. They're only one letter apart. I would have run away too, but apparently, it would take too much work. XD

Clouds in his Eyes: Yes, this is the Shika/Neji I mentioned in SFALA. ^_^ I'm really glad that my writing comes across that way to you! I'd feel so bad if it confused people. ^_^; I hope you'll like this chapter! (Yes, I can see them growing old together!)

pen_name: I literally squealed when I saw your review. I love your stories so much and I'm excited to find out that your reading one of mine! I really can't see either of these boys as stupid kids. Just doesn't go along with the genius reputation. lol And Lee's smart, so Neji better listen! lol Hope you like the update!

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Chapter 2

Waking up the next morning was the last thing Neji wanted to do, but he couldn’t sleep forever. Sighing heavily, he made his way into his bathroom, stripping away the clothes he had slept in. He took his hair tie out and began to brush his hair. It was always to easier to deal with after the shower if he brushed it out before. Stepping into the tub, he turned on the water and let it wash over him, waking him up. He might not be looking forward to the coming event, but he would look his best.

The shower lasted several minutes, Neji not really wanting to get out. As he dried himself off, his mind jumped to what Lee had said the day before. Being optimistic wasn’t really one of Neji’s fortes but he could try. Try and look at the good things in Shikamaru. He thoughtfully rubbed his hair and he stared blankly into the mirror. So the Nara enjoyed peace and quiet, as well as Shogi. What was so great about that? He shook his head, shaking the negative thought away. He was going to think positively.

He wasn’t a stranger to how these ‘first’ meetings went. There would be a formal introduction of the two from each side of the family. Then they would be left alone for several hours to do as they wished. Most couples would sit down and get to know each other. Yet Neji didn’t see Shikamaru as the type to enjoy pointless conversation. No, the Nara wouldn’t like that at all. And neither would he. Another point we share, Neji’s brain told him. We don’t like things that beat around the bush so to speak.

Shogi once again came to mind. A game of Shogi was something that Shikamaru enjoyed doing. Maybe they could do that today instead of the needless babble that most other couples would do. It wasn’t that Neji hated having conversations. He actually enjoyed them. It was the mundane ones that only let you know some of the basics about a person that he hated. They were completely pointless. A game of Shogi could easily bring to mind more interesting topics.

Neji had his breakfast late and even then didn’t eat much. He was suddenly feeling nervous. What if Shikamaru didn’t want to play a game of Shogi? What would he do? Suggest they go have lunch or something? Shikamaru probably wouldn’t want to do that. If anything he’d want to go lie out in a field and stare at clouds. Neji sighed. He hadn’t done that for awhile. Not with the way the clouds always reminded him of his father.

Noon came up on him faster that he had expected, but he was glad he had gotten ready so early in the day. He was in some of his nicer clothes, the cool silk helping to sooth his frazzled nerves. Why he was so nervous, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t going to show it. Sometimes he hated the way the Hyuuga family insisted on tradition of certain things. This was one of them. Why couldn’t the two of them just met, have a chat, and then leave?

He sat silently on his bed, waiting for his uncle to come to his door. It didn’t take long and soon the two males were making their way to one of the nicer greeting rooms. Hiashi had merely given him a sad, yet approving smile before they had left his room. Upon arriving, Neji could hear that the Nara’s were already in the room. Sighing heavily, he closed his eyes and waited for his uncle to open the slide. Suddenly, he was nervous again, but he bit it down. He was not going to mess this up.

The two made their way into the room, Yoshino Nara immediately looking quite confused. Yet her son and husband looked like they could care less. Sitting down, Neji bowed politely to them, his eyes immediately locking with Shikamaru’s. The teenager returned the gesture, somewhat lazily, but Neji ignored that. It was more than he’d ever seen the Nara do. Despite her questioning looks, Yoshino remained silent, waiting for her turn to speak.

“We appreciate you coming here today,” Hiashi stated, smiling. “I’m sure it is confusing as to why Neji walked into the room and not Hinata.”

“Yes, I must say I’m rather confused,” Yoshino frowned.

“I am rather sorry to say that…Hinata has run away from home, to escape her duty to her clan,” Hiashi frowned. It was obvious that he didn’t like speaking of his own daughter this way. “As her younger sister, Hanabi is too young to assume the role that Hinata left behind, the position falls onto the closest family member related to her. This would be Neji.”

Both of Shikamaru’s parents looked surprised at the information, his mother more so. At first Neji was slightly confused. How had Shikamaru known yesterday? But then the Nara was a genius. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had known and expected Hinata leave. Yet, as always, he was too lazy to do anything about it. Neji mentally slapped himself. Optimistic! Lee said to be optimistic and, damn it, that’s what I’m going to do!

“How disappointing,” Yoshino frowned.

Neji tried to deflect the comment, but it sank in, sharply. He lowered his eyes to the floor, breaking his gaze with Shikamaru. Never good enough…I’m never good enough.

“There’s nothing wrong with Neji, mom,” Shikamaru said somewhat testily.

Neji’s eyes snapped back up to the Nara almost immediately, shocked. Had…had Shikamaru just defended him?

“Oh, that’s not what I meant at all,” Yoshino said quickly correcting herself. “I meant it in the sense that it’s disappointing that I won’t be getting any grandchildren.”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “Mom, it’s a bit early to be talking about kids, isn’t it? And if you want a grandkid so much I’ll adopt. Besides, these marriages aren’t for kids. It’s to combine two clans together. Marrying either Hinata or Neji accomplishes the same thing. If anything, Neji makes a better choice.”

Neji couldn’t believe his ears. Nara Shikamaru was defending him, fighting for him even. He hadn’t even said a word!

Yoshino frowned and glared at her son. “What makes you say that?”

“No offense to Hinata or anything,” Shikamaru said, scratching the back of his head, “but Neji’s smarter. He’s closer to my intellect level than anyone else in this entire village.”

Neji was just barely keeping his face as stoic as he normally did. Hiashi, on the other had, seemed to secretly be thanking the teenager with the smile that spread across his face. As his uncle started the official ceremony, his mind raced. Shikamaru had defended him. He still couldn’t get his mind to wrap around that fact. After the rude way he had reacted towards the other yesterday, he had expected Shikamaru to be rather bitter. He smirked to himself. Being bitter took too much work apparently.

His eyes once again locked with Shikamaru’s, who looked bored enough to the point of where he was almost falling asleep. He sent Neji a look that clearly said “Will it never end?” and the Hyuuga couldn’t keep the minimal amused smile that made it’s way to his face away. He would have snickered if he hadn’t been sitting right next to his uncle. Maybe…maybe Nara Shikamaru wasn’t such a bad person after all. Maybe he had been looking at all of the wrong aspects of the other.

“Well, now that we’ve covered everything,” Hiashi smiled, “I think we ought to leave these two to get to know each other better.” He slowly got to his feet and bowed respectfully to his guests, placed a gentle hand on Neji’s shoulder, and then left to escort Yoshino and Shikaku out of the room. Shikaku merely gave both boys a smirk as he left, Yoshino’s expression showing that she still wasn’t very happy. Neji supposed he’d just have to deal with that. He couldn’t really force her to change her mind.

As soon as the two were alone, an awkward silence hung between the two of them before Shikamaru shifted. “So…we’re supposed to get to know each other right?”

Neji smirked. “I believe that’s actually the last thing you’d like to do.”

Shikamaru grinned. “Well, aren’t you on top of things?”

“I’m not one for pointless, dreary conversations. I doubt you are,” Neji explained. He took in a deep breath before letting it out quietly. “Thank you, by the way.”

Shikamaru’s grin grew. “It was nothing. I meant what I said.”

Neji was somehow able to translate that as a ‘you’re welcome’ and left the conversation at that. “Are you up for a game of Shogi?”

“Shogi? Haven’t played with anyone other than my dad for awhile,” Shikamaru said thoughtfully. “It might be worth it to give you a try.”

Neji smirked. “I thought you still lose all the time to your father.”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Troublesome.”

Neji chuckled before he slowly got to his feet. “Is there any particular place you’d like to play?”

Shikamaru shrugged after he too got to his feet. “Nah, I have no preference.”

Neji nodded and began to head out of the room, knowing that Shikamaru would follow him. Closing the panel behind him he started to head towards his room, Shikamaru walking calmly and quietly at his side. Lee, as expected, had been right. Neji had avoided most of his negative thoughts about the man next to him and was getting along with the other just fine. There was no need to get into a complex conversation with him about what he meant by his words. That was something Neji thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe he had been too harsh on the Nara before.

As they continued to walk through the hallways, they started to pass the Hyuuga family garden when Shikamaru stopped, looking out over the colorful plants and into the koi pond. Neji turned to regard the other in slight confusion before he too realized what Shikamaru was doing. This was where they had first met. Neji smirked as he remembered Shikamaru begging him to help him hide from his mother. They hadn’t been very successful, but it was a good memory nonetheless.

“You’re mother was a frightening woman,” Neji stated softly, his eyes not missing how the Nara’s glance shifted to him as he stared out into the garden.

“She still is,” Shikamaru huffed, forcing Neji to smirk. “I just know how to retort and argue with her better now.”

Neji nodded his head. “I didn’t like you much back then.”

Shikamaru looked over at the other in lazy disbelief. “Don’t you still?”

Neji let out a soft sigh. “Change…can be a good thing.”

Shikamaru simply stared at him before a soft smile spread across his face. “I knew you didn’t like me. It was just fun to tease you. I don’t know why, but seeing you irked was amusing.”

Neji held back a scowl and frowned instead. “Is that why you would twist my words on me?”

Laughing lightly, Shikamaru nodded. “Yeah. I was such a brat back then.”

“Hn.” Neji stared out into the garden, simply staring and admiring the beauty of it. Not much had changed in the small square. The trees had grown, as had some of the bushes, but everything else was pretty much the same.

“What? No witty, Hyuuga-famous retort?” Shikamaru teased, smirking.

“I think I’ll keep my silence on that one,” Neji responded, smirking as well. Shikamaru chuckled, blinking slowly. “Would you like to play here?”

Shikamaru shook his head. “No. Just wanted to stop and stare for a moment. Besides, I’m sure you’re bed is much comfier.”

My bed? Neji thought, slightly surprised at the idea. He hadn’t been planning to actually play in his room, but now that he thought on it, it would be a reason for everyone to leave him alone. “Mmm, I’m sure that it is.”

He waited for Shikamaru to catch up to him again before they slowly made their way to the Hyuuga’s room. Once inside, Neji indicated for Shikamaru to sit on the bed while he pulled out the Shogi set. His fingers danced over the fine, dark wood of the board as he pulled it out, his thoughts immediately jumping back to the past. His father had been the one to teach him this game. He had caught on so quickly for being so young. Maybe that was another reason why he was called a genius.

“I always wondered what that was,” Shikamaru stated, pulling the white-eyed nin out of his thoughts. “I was really shocked when you screamed at me to not touch it.”

Neji gave him a small grin as he made his way back towards the bed. “I was a fairly…touchy child, I suppose.”

“It’s your dad’s, isn’t it?” Shikamaru asked, although it sounded more like a statement than it did a question.

Neji paused before he nodded lightly. “It’s all I really have left of him.”

Shikamaru watched as the other opened the inside compartment almost reverently, as if the board were some sacred item. He supposed, in a sense, it was, especially to Neji. With the same amount of respect, Shikamaru began to pull out pieces out of the drawer, setting them down carefully on the face of the bored. Neji let out a small smile as he concentrated on setting his own pieces out as well. He was touched that Shikamaru would realize how important this board was to him.

The room was filled with silence other than the sound of the pieces being placed on the board. Neji’s mind was whirling as he played. Shikamaru had been nothing but nice to him ever since they had met today. Whether it was a conscious thing or not, Neji couldn’t help but wonder why. Was it because he was making an effort to be positive about the situation and who he had to deal with? As he thought about it, being married to Shikamaru wouldn’t be so bad. He wouldn’t have to deal with the nagging and bitching of a woman. That was definitely a plus.

“So, I’m curious,” Shikamaru started, as he moved on of his pieces. “Am I really that bad?”

Neji flushed slightly with embarrassment as he studied the board. “No, you’re not. I was just angry with Hinata and having to be forced into something like this. Although my dislike for you did fuel it.”

Shikamaru chuckled. “I can see that. You blew up a tree. Literally.”

Neji sighed as he made his move. “How much did I really destroy?”

“Quite a bit,” Shikamaru stated quietly, a smirk crawling on to his face. “Tenzou was not a happy man, I can tell you that. Iruka was almost literally freaking out about your situation, saying that you shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of stuff, et cetera, et cetera. Lee had to take over the guy’s class and ended up answering a bunch of questions that the kids had all afternoon.”

“I’ll have to write Tenzou and Iruka apology letters,” Neji said softly.

Shikamaru shrugged, moving a piece casually. “I don’t think you need to go that far. Besides, I already apologized for you.”

Neji’s eyes jumped up from the board. “What?”

“I told Tenzou that it was more than likely my fault,” Shikamaru said nonchalantly. “He chewed me out for a moment, but then realized that I didn’t really care and proceeded to fix the trees behind the stump of the one you destroyed, uprooted said stump, and made a new tree grow in its place. So I’m sure he isn’t expecting anything from you. As for Iruka I explained to him that there was really nothing we could do to get you out of this situation and that you would more than likely accept it eventually. He agreed with me after several minutes.”

Staring was all Neji could do for a moment before he looked at the board, realizing it was his turn. “You didn’t have to do that.” Thank you.

Shikamaru shrugged, but smiled nonetheless. “It’s no biggie.” You’re welcome.

How had Neji ever hated this man? Shikamaru had done more for him in the past two days than most people had done in the entirety of his life. To say he was grateful was an understatement. The pair was silent as they continued on with their game. The entire time Neji couldn’t help but think about what the shadow-bending nin had done for him so far and how polite the other really was. When he wanted to make an effort, you could clearly see it. It made Neji smile. Being optimistic really did help. He’d have to thank Lee later. There was no doubt the spandex-wearing nin would want to know what happened today. The game ended with Shikamaru winning, but Neji found he didn’t care. After everything Shikamaru had done for him, losing was the least he could do for the other.
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I laughed as I typed up the part where Shikamaru liked to piss Neji off just because he found it funny. XD I'm so stupid sometimes.

Reviews might make the author type faster!!! lol