Yosougai (Unexpected)

Shikamaru was still groggy when he plopped down next to Neji on the sofa. The older man smiled at him warily. "I'm not apologizing for biting you, so don't expect anything there," the brunette grouched as he reached for the coffee pot on the coffee table and a mug. Neji just shook his head and admired his companion.

It was obvious that Shikamaru hadn't slept well. His face was a little drawn and he seemed to still be in some pain. He hadn't even bothered to pull his hair up yet. Neji loved the sight of him with his hair down. It was a very very rare sight. The dark chocolate strands framed his face and softened it. He looked a few years younger. It all gave him an innocent and almost delicate air.

Neji of course knew that Shika was neither, that only made it more delicious. He leaned over and kissed Shika on the cheek. He received a glare for his trouble. It didn't phase him. Bad mood or not, this was his Shika. "Have you taken anything today?"

Shika pulled an irritated face. "Yes, mother. I took my pain killers."

Neji chuckled and kissed his cheek again. "Perhaps you should stay here today and rest. I'm sure Naruto would be happy to have you as company."

Shikamaru almost didn't manage to throttle his panic before it reached his face. 'No, no, no. I am not staying here alone with that dangerous little bird.' He was truly afraid of what he'd felt last night and needed time to sort things out. "I need to check in with dad. I was thinking of going out to Kobe. Unless you really need me for the next week or so..."

"No everything is going smoothly at the moment. It would be a good time to do so. I am sure your mother would love to see you," Neji teased him. Shika's glare could have shattered diamonds. Neji laughed softly.

"Where is Naruto anyway?" Shika asked after a few moments of quiet between them.

"He was in the shower when I finished my work out."

"Did he tell you about his clothes?" Shika hoped not. He didn't want to have missed their little surprise.

"Hmm? No, he didn't even come to the gym today. I hope he's not feeling ill..."

"Maybe you should go check on him," Shika suggested, he sure wasn't going to get up to do it. 'That boy is just too damned dangerous right now.'

"Alright. He didn't seem unwell yesterday, did he?" Shikamaru shook his head. Neji nodded in understanding and headed towards Naruto's room.

When he returned he wore a worried look. "It's been more than an hour and his shower is still running...."

"Did it sound as if he was in there moving around?" Water sounded differently cascading off a moving body than a stationary object. Neji would have noticed.

"I believe so." Shikamaru almost didn't hear the murmured response. He was fighting with his brain at the moment. 'No. I am not going to picture that,' he growled inside his own head. His conscience won out over his brain, but it was beginning to give him a headache.

"Then leave him. He's fine." Shika leaned back into the cushions and tried to doze off again. Clearing his head of such ridiculous nonsense.

"Are you sure? He is usually up very early and is always eager to train," Neji said with a worried face.

"Well, he has been trapped in here for a long time. Just give him some more time." 'And drop the subject... I'm fighting a battle here,' he silently added.

"I am aware how long he's been here, what does that have to do with him being in the shower so long?" the elegant man asked with a perplexed look on his face. Shikamaru opted for ignoring him. This only increased Neji's confusion.

'Oh yeah, this is the pretty Hyuuga boy who has never had to take care of his own... needs,' Shikamaru thought to himself. "Ask Genma, I'm sure he would love to explain it to you." 'Cause there is no way in hell I am touching that subject right now.'

"Explain what?" Naruto asked.

Neji looked up and at the question and started to choke on the coffee he was drinking. He couldn't help it. There was their blond bird in the tightest, and lowest cut blue jeans he had ever seen. With a... top... made up of... 'is that dental floss?'

"Nothing to worry about Naru-chan," Shikamaru answered while pounding the man's back, hard, under the pretense of 'helping' him. 'Serves you right for sending that thing here.'

"Wha-what the hell are you wearing?" Neji asked while glaring at his innocent looking partner.

"Oh! You like it? The designer swore to me that it suited me. Actually it's pretty comfortable," the blond said while giving a little twirl.

"I thought you were helping him!?!"

"Hey, you sent the man. At least I stopped him when he started to bring out his... 'swimwear' line."

"He looks... he looks... like a... a cheap whore," Neji said out loud while in his mind he was thinking 'and way too tempting to be allowed.'

"Actually, since it's designer... he looks like an expensive one." Shikamaru really couldn't help himself. Neji's glare could have peeled paint.

"Right here ya know?" Naruto said irritably.

"You are not allowed to leave this apartment with that on," Neji said with a slightly raised voice.

Oh this was fun. This was the most reaction he had ever gotten out of the cold man. "But... Neji-kun... you were the one who wanted me to have new clothes before I could go out... and it was the designer of your choice. Personally I would have rather gone to a store. At least then I would have been able to buy clothes that fit me."

Neji started to pound his head into his open palms. "Just... please tell me everything you got yesterday does not look like... that!" 'If it does then there is no way in hell Shikamaru is visiting his father and leaving me alone here with you. It would just be too dangerous.'

"Puh-leeease," Naruto said with a snort; "I do have taste Neji. I thought you did too... though after that designer I'm beginning to wonder about it."

"I'll take that to mean that you got some sensible clothes too. So.. please go and change into something else." 'Before anyone else can see you looking like that.'

"With pleasure," Naruto purred. He walked over to the door then snapped his fingers and whirled back around. "I didn't get any new work-out clothes. I was too afraid to ask the guy about them. I'm sure his idea of 'working out' is a lot different from mine. So you will have to live with me wearing... how did the designer put it... my 'sack' clothing or this outfit. Your choice."

"Your old clothes are fine for working out in," Neji said while peeking at the man through his fingers.

"YOSH! That means I don't have to throw out all of my underwear!" Naruto said joyously as he exited the room. Leaving Neji and Shika to wonder just what that had meant. Shika thought he knew, but stopped himself before he thought on it too much.

"Just what the hell were you thinking sending that fruit loop here?" Shikamaru asked while smacking Neji on the back of his head. It had been a long time since the stoic man had felt so overwhelmed.

He couldn't decide if he wanted to laugh, cry, or howl. In the end he choked down his emotions and tried to finish his coffee, while Shikamaru smirked at him. The other didn't need to see the emotional battle to know it was happening. Shika knew him a little too well.

~TBC…