The Way Things Are

Yay! New chapter for The Way Things Are! I really love this story. ^_^ haha, I guess that's a good thing. Anyhow, I hope you'll enjoy the update. ^_^

REVIEW REPLIES

lo: I'm so glad! I hope you'll enjoy it!

Tyra: Yup, Neji's a virgin! Poor beautiful Hyuuga, eh? lol Everyone makes mistakes, so I just had to ruin Shikamaru's 'perfect' appearance. XD lol

charmpit: Indeed. How much longer do you think he can last?

Anaheyla: Indeed. XD

AngelicChaos: Oh, I like that. lol I'll have to remember that one. XD Thank you so much. I was nervous that it would be found boring. >_< Am I really getting better?! Oh gosh, thanks! I can't tell you how happy that makes me! :D Let's just hope Shikamaru can fix this, huh? (quite the review you left by the way...)

Timberfox: Thank you for the review! ^_^ I thought it might be odd of a runaway Hinata actually and at first I was really disliking the idea. But now it works for me. ^_^ Thanks so much!

Syake: I think Neji would kill anyone other than Shikamaru. XD You should have finished watching your movie. lol I hope this chapter will satisfy you!

lonelydove: Thank you so much! ^_^ I hope you'll like it!

Drivven Labyrinth: Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Lith: I love this pairing. They work so well together it's scary. Neji does need to relax. He's far to tense. *snickers* I hope you'll enjoy this.

D.A.Maxwell: Oh, I like that! I'm going to have to use that! lol Thanks so much for the love. ^_^ Shikamaru's just cool with everything that he does, right? lol Happy reading!

ydjessy: Sorry for the confusion! They were simply showing Shikamaru off in the first chapter. The marriage between the clans was planned later. Hiashi could really see his potential, but was being devious by letting his parents think he was simply thinking about it. Kukukuku...I hope that clears up your confusion!

jess249: Nah, others found it funny too. XD I myself was chuckling. Oh, he'll eventually find a way. XD lol As to whether Shikamaru's a virgin or not will be revealed in due time. ^_^ lol

PossessedMuse: I like to keep the updates coming quickly. I can't stand stories that take two weeks to update. I have wondered if I update too quickly, but with all of the reviews I get, I guess not. ^_^ Thanks for all the compliments!

Lady Laran: So true! Let's hope he can handle it!

Zenith-Kaitou: Indeed, poor genius. lol And thank you!

Travellyr: I don't think Shikamaru's ever had a delicate touch with anything that he does. XD Oh no worries. He will. I couldn't keep people satisfied if I didn't have a little smut, right? XD lol

pen_name: I'm sure a lot of people were thinking that. Chop chop, Shikamaru! lol As to whether he's a virgin or not, all will be told...later. XD lol

luxeflex: Thank you! I'm hoping I'm not making him too OC. >_< I hope this chapter will satisfy you. :D


Thank you for all of the reviews!! You guys keep me going!

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Chapter 6

Like the first morning when Neji was supposed to meet with Shikamaru, he didn’t want to get out of bed. This time was not due to nervousness. No, now he simply didn’t want to see the Nara at all. Yesterday had left him more frustrated and irate than he had ever been in his entire life. Shikamaru for a short time had been making him feel better but had to go and destroy it. Couldn’t the Nara see how awkward this was for Neji? Not only having to take Hinata’s place but act as the other half of a relationship?

Sighing as he made his way to one of the more private greeting rooms, Neji decided he wasn’t going to speak to the Nara unless it was absolutely necessary. Yes, he was acting like a woman, but he was angry. If ignoring the Nara and giving him the cold shoulder was what he needed to do to feel better, he would do it. He opened the slid to the room, expecting it to be empty only to find Shikamaru already standing in the room waiting for him. He was early. Nara Shikamaru was early.

“Hey,” the Nara said quietly, simply looking at the Hyuuga.

Neji nodded curtly and said nothing. An hour. He only had to endure an hour with the bastard and then he could be alone for the rest of the day.

“Mind if we play another game of Shogi today?” Shikamaru asked casually, although his voice was still subdued.

Thinking about it for a moment, Neji looked away. Playing Shogi meant they’d have to use his father’s set, something he really didn’t want to do right now. But it also gave him a chance to show his full potential against the Nara, maybe even beat him. “Very well.”

Shikamaru smiled slightly. “Great. Your room?”

Neji nodded and turned, leaving the door open for the Nara to walk through. The silence was heavy and awkward, but Neji paid it no mind. They entered his room in the same silence and Neji headed straight for the closet. He let out a soft sigh as he carefully withdrew the board from the closet, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. When it came to dealing with this board, it was always done in the utmost reverence. He could never be completely angry when he looked at it.

The game started out in the same silence, Neji keeping his eyes on the board the entire time, not noticing the occasional glances from the Nara. When the atmosphere became to tense for even Shikamaru to handle, the Nara sighed heavily. “Neji, I need to apologize.”

Neji raised an eyebrow, but made no other movement to show he had heard the Nara. “Oh?”

Shikamaru sighed. “I was completely rude yesterday and…my actions were uncalled for.”

Neji made no comment. He wanted to be sarcastic, wanted to piss Shikamaru off. But he controlled himself and said nothing instead, focusing on the game.

Shikamaru frowned and snatched the piece Neji was going to move and wrapped his hand around it. “I’m trying to apologize. The least you could do is pay attention.”

“I heard you,” Neji stated, “now give me back the piece.”

“Not until you answer me,” Shikamaru said, fighting back a smirk.

“I don’t feel inclined to do so,” Neji retorted. “Give me back the piece.”

“No,” the Nara stated. “Not until we discuss this.”

“Nara,” Neji frowned, “just give me the piece.”

“No.”

“Shikamaru.”

“No.”

“I’m warning you.”

“I’m not giving it back.”

“One more chance, Nara. Give it back.”

“No.”

Neji lunged, something Shikamaru hadn’t expected the other to do, his hands scrambling to pull the piece from the startled Nara’s hands. Shikamaru quickly regained his senses and tightened his hold around the Shogi piece (a bishop to be exact), keeping Neji away as best he could. The Hyuuga dove forward again, pushing Shikamaru back against the head rest. Shikamaru twisted, hiding the bishop behind his back and holding Neji off with his arm. Neji’s footing slipped on the bed spread and knocked the Shogi board off.

Neji could have sworn that the next few seconds were played in slow motion. The minute his foot had touched the board, he had immediately turned around, knowing full well what was going to happen if he didn’t stop it. But gravity was pulling at it too quickly and all he could do was stare as the dark wooded board continued to fall. He barely registered some movement from the Nara, but his mind was focused fully on the board.

He expected to hear a sickening crack, to watch the board get chipped and broken. He hadn’t expected to see tendrils of the shadows reach out and grabbed the Shogi board and all of the pieces with it before it hit the floor. He watched as the board was slowly lifted back onto the middle of the bed and the pieces placed into a small pile next to it. It was then that Neji felt Shikamaru let out a relieved breathe before he flopped back against the head board of Neji’s bed.

“That was close,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. “Try to be more careful, would you?”

“You…” Neji couldn’t think of what to say. He had been so angry with the Nara and now…now he wanted to hug him. Shikamaru had saved his father’s board, the only thing that he had left of him. He didn’t even care or realize that he was leaning over Shikamaru in a way that wouldn’t look innocent should someone walk in. “I…thank you…”

“It’s important to you, right?” Shikamaru stated, picking up the bishop that had fallen to the bedspread when he had started making the seals for his jutsu. “I couldn’t just let it fall.”

Neji shouldn’t have felt touched, but he did. He should still be angry, but he wasn’t. “Still, after the way I’ve been acting-“

“You had every right to be angry about yesterday,” Shikamaru sighed. “That’s why I wanted to apologize and make it up to you. I felt bad.”

“Considering that you just saved the one thing that’s most important to me,” Neji smirked, “I don’t think I could reject your apology.”

“So I’ve been forgiven?” Shikamaru grinned.

Neji gave him a small smile. “Yes.”

Shikamaru sighed. “Good. I still need to make it up to you.”

“You already have,” Neji stated, sitting back and placing his hand on the surface of the board.

“That doesn’t count,” Shikamaru argued. “Let me take you out for lunch.”

“You made lunch last time,” Neji retorted, slowly picking up the pieces to put them away.

“Yes, but last time I hadn’t been overly rude to you,” Shikamaru stated. “Please?”

Neji sighed and leaned forward to grab the bishop Shikamaru had in his hands. “Very well.”

Shikamaru grinned, placing the piece in Neji’s hand. “Where’d you like to go?”

“Shikamaru, I don’t want to make all the decisions in this,” Neji frowned, closing the drawer to his Shogi board.

“I’m the one apologizing, so therefore, you get to pick,” Shikamaru stated as Neji got off of the bed to put the board away.

Neji sighed, putting the board back into his closet. “But I really don’t care. You’ve already…given me the greatest favor. Anything else would seem…insignificant.”

Shikamaru smiled. “Well, I knew the board was important to you, but not that important. I’m glad I saved it.”

“You have no idea how much it really means to me,” Neji said softly, his eyes lingering on the closet doors. “Why don’t we just forget that yesterday ever happened?”

“You mean treat this like a lover’s spat and let it go?” Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

Neji’s cheeks flushed slightly at the Nara’s wording before he nodded. “Exactly. Although I wouldn’t know what it’s like to have a lover’s spat.”

Shikamaru chuckled. “Alright, I get it. At least let me take you out for lunch, huh? Even if you don’t want to count it as part of my apology.”

“But-“

“Neji, please,” Shikamaru said softly. “I know…that you didn’t and still don’t want to be in this situation, but…we really can’t change it. At least let me try to make it the best that we can.”

Neji paused and looked over at the Nara. He was right. Unless Hinata came back or was forced to come back, there was no way to call of this engagement. Sighing he walked over to the bed and sat back down, next to Shikamaru. He stared at the floor for a moment before he turned his gaze over to the Nara, who was looking at him expectantly. Neji gave him a small smile and nodded his head in agreement with the other’s words.

“You’re right,” Neji stated. “It is something I’m going to have to just accept and make the best out of. I’ll do my best to be…agreeable.”

Shikamaru grinned. “Thank you Neji. I’ll try not to embarrass you so much.”

The Hyuuga flushed a little. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Being defiant isn’t going to get you anywhere,” Shikamaru smirked, getting to his feet. “Come on. We’ll go to the ramen shop for lunch. Unless you have any arguments with that.”

Neji shook his head and stood to his feet. “No, I’m alright with ramen.”

“If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll run into Naruto,” Shikamaru grinned, walking with the Hyuuga out of his room.

Neji snorted. “Wouldn’t that be unlucky?”

Shikamaru laughed and Neji couldn’t help but smile at the sound. They were back on good terms. He supposed that anytime they seemed to be having a conflict he’d just having to remember what they had talked about today. That and what the Nara had done for him today. He was sure there would be few moments when he would be angry enough that not even saving his father’s Shogi board would save the Nara from his wrath, but the incident would act as a constant reminder.

The pair made their way quietly down the streets of Konoha, nodding and bowing politely to those who greeted them, but made no move to start a conversation. Neji was extremely content. It must have been because Shikamaru had saved his Shogi board. His heart was still thumping with the adrenaline the moment had pumped into him. He kept his face calm, even if there was a small smile on his face. He couldn’t deny the good feeling pumping through him.

It wasn’t a surprise when they came upon Naruto in the Ichiraku Ramen shop. They were, however, surprised to see Sasuke there. The Uchiha had been extremely reclusive since he had returned to Konoha two years ago. Of course Naruto didn’t like that and pulled Sasuke out of his home every chance he got. Lately, that had been less, considering that Naruto was constantly with Tsunade trying to gain the skills for becoming the Hokage, but he still pulled Sasuke out.

As the two entered the shop, Neji’s first thoughts went to where Sakura was. Ever since Sasuke had come back, the pink-haired girl had been hanging out with the Uchiha as much as she could. Neji snorted to himself. No wonder the dark-haired boy was so reclusive. Naruto beamed when he saw the two of them and gave them a hearty greeting. Sasuke stiffened for a moment before he gave the two a brief nod. It was apparent that he still got negative and hated looks, but Shikamaru was too lazy to do that and didn’t care. Neji, in all honesty, wasn’t going to blame the Uchiha for all of it and was simply going to keep his mouth shut about the parts he did blame him for.

“How are you doing, Sasuke?” Neji asked, surprising the Uchiha and making Naruto very happy.

“I’m doing well, thank you Neji,” Sasuke said quietly, but firmly. He might have been a little reclusive, but he was still a Uchiha.

“Oh, Sasuke, did you hear about these two?” Naruto asked, as the other boy turned back to his ramen. “They’re going be fiancées!”

Sasuke’s eyes widened and he turned to the blonde completely. “What?”

Neji sighed and quietly ordered while Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “Maybe you’d better expand on the situation, Naruto.”

“Right, right,” the blonde chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

It wasn’t long till Sasuke was informed, and a smirk had been steadily growing on his face as the information had been spilled. “Ah, I see.”

Neji sent Shikamaru a look that said clearly said ‘don’t interfere’ as he took a drink of his sake. There had always been little verbal wars between the Hyuuga and the Uchiha and he wasn’t going to try and call in backup. No, that would be cowardly. He merely nodded to Sasuke’s comment and thanked the chef for the ramen, his mind whirling as Shikamaru too thanked him for his own. What was the Uchiha going to say first?

“I must say, I’m shocked,” Sasuke stated, looking over slyly at Neji. “I would have expected you to be throwing a hissy fit, Hyuuga.”

Neji caught Shikamaru’s barely suppressed smirk, but ignored it. “Really? I thought that was your lot in life.” He really had missed these.

Sasuke snorted. “More like Naruto’s actually.”

Shikamaru couldn’t hold back the snorted snickers as the look that covered Naruto’s face.

“Teme!” Naruto snarled, smacking Sasuke upside the head. “See if I ever do you any favors.”

“Damn it, dobe!” Sasuke hissed, clutching onto his head. “That’s where I hit my head this morning on the headboard!”

Naruto’s expression changed immediately. “Oh, Sasuke, I-I’m sorry! I totally forgot!” Not completely thinking clearly, Naruto pulled the Uchiha closer to him and kissed the spot he had just barely hit.

Both Neji and Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at that while a blush covered Sasuke’s cheeks. “Well,” Neji smirked, “certainly wasn’t expecting that tidbit of information.”

“I’m surprised I didn’t know about it,” Shikamaru grinned. “And people say I’m a genius. How long have you two been hiding that?”

Sasuke’s blush grew. “Hiding what?”

“I don’t think you want me to say it out loud, Sasuke,” Shikamaru said, turning back to his meal.

Naruto was just as dark as the other and his head was slightly bowed. “Please don’t tell anyone. Especially Sakura…”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Neji stated, slowly gathering some noodles.

“Naruto,” Shikamaru started, staring at the blonde with a look so blank no one could have beat it, “have you ever heard of either of us spreading a rumor?”

Naruto sighed in relief and Neji caught the relieved look in the Uchiha’s dark eyes. “Thanks guys.”

“Let’s just say we’ll be expecting a really big gift from the two of you when we’re officially engaged,” Shikamaru smirked, giving Neji a wink with the eye the other two couldn’t see.

Neji shook his head and returned to his meal when Naruto immediately began to ask Sasuke what they were going to get them. Sasuke merely replied with a whispered dobe and Shikamaru returned to his noodles, grinning. Over all, the day had turned out much better than Neji had originally planned for. And now that he had his mind focused, he was sure that he would be able to accept the situation eventually. After all, the Nara wasn’t as bad as he had originally thought and after recent events, Neji was even willing to praise him.
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I'm sorry if it was too fast! I just couldn't keep them angry for too long. >_<

In the words of D.A. Maxwell (XD) "A review a day keeps bad endings away." XD lol Thanks!