My Mangaka

Naruto was late.  He was supposed to meet Shikamaru for lunch.  It was Wednesday and Naruto always brought subs in for them to eat in Shika’s office.  His blond friend had been behaving oddly for the last few days.  Shikamaru had tried to tell himself it was nothing.  That had worked out so very well for him. Ha!

Now he was grinding his teeth and muttering his catchphrase under his breath as he dared the clock to move forward even a second.  Mayhem was going to ensue soon.  The young Nara had a deep hatred of clocks as it was.

Knock Knock

“Nara-san?”  Haku’s timid voice came from the other side of the door.

Shika stood almost reluctantly, but headed for the door anyway.  He couldn’t shake the feeling that Naruto’s odd behavior was his fault AND that it was tied to the company's newest mangaka.  Haku was tied to Neji, so it just made everything troublesome.

“Haku…”  The little raven pushed his way into the office and wrapped his slender arms around Shikamaru’s waist.  Tears quickly soaked into Shika’s shirt.  His arm automatically came up around Haku’s shoulders.

“Are you alright?" Shika rolled his eyes at his own ineptitude. 'Dumb questions genius.'



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Naruto had the world’s worst timing.  He’d caught every light on the way there, run into an old boyfriend and had trouble escaping the long drawn out ‘why didn’t it work out’ conversation, and now as he stepped off the elevator; his first sight was Shika’s arms around Neji’s pretty little assistant.

It occurred to Naruto, in that moment, that Shikamaru had mentioned getting close to Haku.  They’d even gone on a trip together.  It hadn’t bothered Naruto before, but it was an unpleasant thought now.  To top that off, Shika had gone with Haku to rescue Neji AFTER searching for and rescuing Haku!!

He did the only thing he could.  He spun on his heel and walk/jogged for the stairs.  Fleeing wasn’t brave or honest, but it did seem the only option.  He thought no one saw.  He really didn’t know how observant a certain dark haired beauty was.

Neji was coming off the other elevator as Naruto slipped out the front door.  The older man saw the tears sliding down the golden face.  Neji was stunned.  He had to know what had happened.  Instead of waiting for Haku, who had excused himself from the meeting in need of the restroom, Neji instructed his driver to follow the beat up old van.  He was grateful that limousines were so plentiful here.  Naruto never even realized he was being tailed



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"He left without you?”

“I guess you aren’t the only one who was overlooked today.”  Haku sighed.  “Thank you for not making me explain why I was crying.”

“You need to get some rest Haku.  I don’t think you're sleeping well enough.”

Haku couldn’t tell this man that the reason he hadn’t slept well was because he spent his nights holding Neji together through the nightmares or worrying that Neji’s obsessive need for Shikamaru might just destroy both men.  There was the cute and cuddly blond to worry about too…. Haku felt like the entire world was walking on his shoulders.  He’d finally reached a breaking point today.  He’d just planned on getting some fresh air.  Instead, he had ended up at Shika’s office, then inside it, crying his dark eyes out.

Haku sighed.  “I know.  Hopefully things will improve soon.”  Shikamaru just smiled and nodded.  For a genius, the young man was a little dense.

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The blond pulled into a parking space and made a dash toward the beach.  Neji slipped out of the car giving the driver instructions to wait for him.  He took off his dress shoes and socks when he reached the sand and carried them as he tried to locate the tan young man.  It was as if Naruto had disappeared.  The only evidence of him was the trail of discarded clothing leading toward the water’s edge.

As he scanned the beach he almost missed the golden head popping up out of the water forcefully.  Naruto was a very strong swimmer and he seemed to be working out his frustrations against the waves.  Neji had to admit that Naruto was stunning in his element.  The blond was so strong and handsome.  He looked like a demigod, some child of ocean and sun.  The play of the water and light glistening along his flexing muscles was truly magnificent.

For the first time in his life, Neji could acknowledge a true rival.  How Shikamaru could have remained ‘friends’ only with the golden nymph gliding through the churning waves was a question of mythic proportions.  Neji himself was half-hard just from watching.

Naruto finally noticed Neji’s presence as he made his way out of the water.  The beach was nearly deserted and it was starting to get dark.  Neji was sitting on his pale grey suit jacket.  His legs were drawn up against his chest and his head rested upon his crossed arms where they lay atop his bent knees.

His countenance had softened in the peaceful atmosphere.  He had watched the water and the sky and Naruto until his mind calmed and he felt almost at peace.  His pale violet eyes were soft and almost unguarded as Naruto approached.  Naruto’s blue eyes were always too open and Neji plainly saw the suspicion and confusion there.

“I want him as mine.”  Neji whispered into the wind as it teased and played with the ends of his long hair.

“I figured.”  The nearly naked golden body plopped down beside him unceremoniously.

“What will you do to keep him?”

“I won’t keep him if he doesn’t want to stay.  I love him.  I want him to be happy.”  Hot tears ran down the scarred cheeks.

“Baka.”  Neji hissed in derision.  “If you won’t fight for him, you don’t deserve him and you’ve already lost.”

Naruto snarled low in warning.  Neji smirked as he turned his head so that his cheek rested on his arms and he could look Naruto in the eye.  “I won’t lose to you.”

There was an electric sensation sparking between their bodies and Naruto was becoming very aware of their close proximity.  The last person on the earth he wanted to be turned on by was making his entire body feel hot and then cold in turns.

 

“Shikamaru is mine.  I won’t let you take him.”  It was a growl filled with animal tension and raw emotion.  The last thing he expected was for Neji’s pale hand to caress his cheek almost tenderly.

“A pact then, we fight for him until he chooses.  The loser bows out gracefully.”

Naruto nodded as little spikes of pleasure leapt from Neji’s fingertips, skipping along his spinal cord, and straight to his hardening cock.

“To seal the bargain….”  Neji whispered as he leaned closer to his rival.  He told himself it was a mind game.  He told himself that he was scouting the enemy.  He refused to admit to the slightest bit of curiosity.  Neji was very well acquainted with the ‘beautiful lies’.



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He’d fucked up.  More specifically, he’d fucked Neji… on the beach, in public…. He’d fucked that beautiful body and Neji had been the most skilled, responsive bottom he’d ever had.  Naruto was truly and totally fucked. 

He’d lost his control, something he was actually very prone to do.  He’d been ok when their lips had met, but when Neji’s hot tongue traced the seam of his lips asking for entrance, Naruto had lost it.  He rolled the aggravatingly composed man onto his back and kissed him fiercely.  It was a show of dominance.  It backfired.  Neji had actually chuckled at him.  The dam broke and something in him had demanded to see the elegant beauty turn into a wanton slut.

Afterward, he’d felt horrible.  He hadn’t thought of what Neji had endured before.  It hadn’t crossed his mind for a moment that he may be dredging up old memories.  It didn't matter that Neji had actually encouraged him, egged him on with dark chuckles, long breathy moans, and even the occasional comment “Eager aren’t we?”  “Is this what you want from him?”  “Show me!”

Naruto’s conscience didn’t let him hide behind those things.  He sat there, sated and horrified by his own actions while Neji waded out to ‘tidy’ himself up.

The blond had his head in his hands when Neji approached.  “I’m sorry.”  The idiot was murmuring while shaking his head.

Neji did not want to win this way, no matter how easy it would be to use this against the other man.  Neji wanted the blond to acknowledge that he had captured Shikamaru’s heart, not that the blond was unworthy of it.

“You really are a moron.”  The tear filled blue eyes snapped up to meet Neji’s own cold gaze.  “I entice you and you apologize.  You really have no chance of beating me.  Give up now.”

It had the desired effect.  Anger scorched a ring of red around the blue.  “A cold hearted bastard like you will never be good enough for him.  I told you, he’s mine.  He always will be.”

Neji left the beach smiling and with only the slightest hint of a limp.



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"I was worried."  Haku chided from the chair just inside the suite.



"I was distracted.  I apologize."  Neji was openly limping.



Haku stood slowly and cautiously.  "You are injured?"



Neji leaned against the door unable to look Haku in the eyes.  "I 'played' with the blond."



"Naruto??!! Neji!! NO!!!" Horror and shame for his friend filled Haku's voice and for the first time Neji cried. He truly cried, sliding down the door frame into a crumpled heap. Haku stood stunned, at first too shocked to move and then, uncertain if Neji would accept his comfort and absolutely certain Neji was undeserving of it.



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He couldn't bring himself to look at Shika. He couldn't even bring himself to talk to Shikamaru. Naruto was hiding out in one of his loser ex-boyfriend's trailer house on the beach. He hadn't seen Shika a week and it was killing him. They'd never gone this long without talking before. He missed his friend so much it hurt to breathe. There was of course another source of pain, Neji. Naruto had done something awful, to someone who was surely emotionally unbalanced, fragile even. There was no way he could forgive himself.



He was lying in the sand staring up at the clouds Shika loved so much and trying not to cry. A cloud of sand billowed up and engulfed him. COUGH GAG SPUTTER "What the hell do you think you're doing here asshole?"



Naruto forced air into his lungs and looked up at his royally pissed off friend. "You kicked sand on me. I couldn't fucking breathe."



"That is not what I meant and you know it asshole."



Naruto didn't meet his eyes. "I did something shitty... and you're gonna hate me."



Shikamaru felt a searing pain in his chest. "I could never hate you Naru." His voice had such a soft tone, it actually hurt Naruto more. He sank down onto the sand next to the morose blond. "I love you Naru. I always will."



"I slept with Neji, the day I saw you glomped onto Haku... I went to the beach. He followed me or something..."



Shika stood up reflexively. "Naruto, you know what he's been through!"



Naruto bit his lip and growled. "Yeah, dumbass! Why do you think I said you were gonna hate me?!"



Shikamaru turned away from him. "I... I need a minute to process..."



"What's there to fucking process? He came on to me and I fucked him! Yeah, he's all fragile and shit. Yeah it was totally wrong! Yeah, I am the world's biggest fuck-wad!"



Shika didn't look at him.



"Get the fuck out of here! Just fucking go! I god-damned well told you so!" Naruto raged. "Do you have to stand there like that?" His voice broke. "It hurts.... please just leave." He curled in on himself, his head to his knees.



"I... I'm sorry Naruto... it's just.... I..." He still couldn't look at his best friend. "I can't believe you'd do that. You're the most sensitive person I know."



Naruto's chin came up to rest on his knees. He stared out over the waves. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you thought."



They stayed there for several moments cloaked in awkward silence. "Just go."



There was a resignation in Naruto's voice that Shikamaru had never heard before. He didn't know what else to do but obey.



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'Maybe you don't know me as well as you thought...' The words just kept repeating in his head. "I've known you my whole life..." Shika muttered to himself as he stared blankly at the computer screen. "I know you better than I know me..." 'So, what does that mean? If I don't know him as well as I thought... what do I know about me?'



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Three weeks, and not a word from Naruto, Shikamaru was starting to go a little crazy. He was lonely and confused, and he'd started noticing things about himself that he'd not noticed before. He missed Naruto in a way that maybe wasn't just friendly. He blamed it on his new acquaintances. Being around Haku, the most beautiful, effeminate, sweet man he'd ever met was enough to have nearly any man questioning his own sexual identity. Being around Neji was something else altogether. Neji made Shikamaru tense. The young exec was hypersensitive to the talented mangaka. Shikamaru had to admit, when Neji was near him, the man filled his mind. He could sense Neji's presence, hear Neji's every breath; the man's scent was something Shika didn't dare describe.



When his mind wasn't pre-occupied with the long haired artist, it was worrying at his relationship with Naruto. Shika was begining to realize that part of his adverse reaction to Naruto's confession was rooted in a 'small' amount of jealousy. He was still worried over what damage may have been done to Neji's already injured spirit, but there was this burning sense of betrayal. It made no sense. Naruto had slept with many men, and Shikamaru had heard about them all. 'Even met some of them.'



'Why would I care that he slept with Neji, besides Neji's issues of course...? I don't get it... am I jealous because it was Neji? Does that mean I have feelings for Neji?' The answer was a pretty obvious 'yes'. Just what those feelings were was still in question. It still didn't feel right. It wasn't just because it was Neji. Somehow the fact that it was Naruto was an issue as well. ' "Damn... troublesome...."



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Haku hadn't said a word. He didn't need to. The man was a genius. He could guilt-trip Neji without even looking at him. "I'll speak with Shikamaru."



It was obvious there was something wrong. It was obvious that it was something wrong between Shikamaru and his friend. Shika hadn't said anything. Neji and Haku had 'inside' information and could easily guess why the young brunette was moping and mumbling, and why the handsome blond who was reportedly Shikamaru's shadow had not been around for four of the five weeks the mangaka and his assistant had been in the country.



Haku made no reply. It really wasn't necessary.



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"So.....?" Shikamaru sat across from Neji unsure why he had been asked to lunch. He'd been hoping to get through the meal with simple small talk, and yet he couldn't think of a thing to say.



"Where is Naruto-kun?" Neji didn't look at him, he was pretending to watch the traffic on the street.



Shika's stomach hit his shoes. He didn't want to talk about Naruto, that was the very last subject he wanted to talk about with anyone, especially Neji. 'Why do you want to know?' That's what he wanted to ask. 'Do you want to see him again? Why does that piss me off? Is it because it's you, or him? Fuck I hate this!' He waited too long to answer while struggling with himself. Neji's pale eyes were looking directly into his own before he realized it.



"He told you." It wasn't a question and the fierce look in Neji's eyes made it clear that playing dumb was not an option.



"Are you okay?" Shika bit his lip and looked away. "He didn't 'hurt' you... did he?" He felt sick and was glad he hadn't felt up to eating much. He couldn't imagine Naruto hurting anyone, ever. It was all just so wrong.



"I'm beginning to wonder what I see in you." Neji was pissed. He leaned back in his chair creating far more distance between them than physics should allow.



Shikamaru's perplexed expression was amusing at least.



Neji's head came up, cocked to the side in an arrogant and presumptuous manner. It suited him. "Why is it exactly, that you think I am here? Why have I met with you about my work, even though I had made it clear that I never intended to do so? Why did I travel all the way to America to do so? And more importantly Shikamaru-san; why am I still here? There is no part of our business that can not be handled remotely."



The younger man blinked in confusion. "I... I... never thought about it." He admitted stupidly.



"Just as you 'never thought' about his feelings for you." Neji's glare intensified. "I will not let you ignore me as you have him." The look on his face screamed 'I am very used to getting what I set out to have.'



"I... I don't ignore Naruto... what the hell are you talking about Neji?! You aren't making any sense!" Politeness had flown out the window and a sickening fear was taking it's place. Shikamaru really wanted to run away and hide. He felt like a child, reminded of how he would hide out at Naruto's house from his parents and their expectations. He wanted to see his friend more in that moment than he had since this had all started. Naruto was his safe place. Here was someone who intensely wanted something from him and that always freaked him out.



Neji smiled and it was not a pleasant smile. "If you will not face it. I will make you." He stood gracefully and glided around the small table to stand beside the seated man. He leaned down so that their faces were the barest space from touching. His eyes bore into Shika's. "He is in love with you and wants you as his own. I will not leave this place without your heart firmly sealed to mine. That is how it is. Even though he has allowed you to run from his feelings all this time, I will not."



All his arrogance and pride failed him in that moment. Neji's head moved slightly to the side and barely a hair's breathe forward. Neji’s soft smooth cheek barely touched the side of Shikamaru's forehead. His breath was labored and a single tear escaped his tightly shut eyes, glimmering for an instant on his long dark lashes before sliding down his cheek to kiss Shikamaru's forehead. 'Please choose me. Soon...' Neji could hold it together no longer. He straightened. "I will not give you up to him without a fight." His voice only shook slightly.



Shikamaru hadn't even had the presence of thought as he watched Neji walk away to ask the question that plagued him for days afterward. 'If it's me you both want... why did you fuck each other?!?'

`tbc`