Neji stepped into the bookstore; it smelled of green tea, the hyuuga noticed the clerk behind the table sipping some in an antique teacup. He glanced around at the worn and dented covers; this was obviously a used bookstore.

"Hello." She smiled softly and nodded towards perhaps the only customer of the day.

Great, now Neji couldn't leave, at least not right away. He had no interest in getting Sasuke something used, but he wasn't going to be outright rude either. He traveled up and down the aisles a few moments, pretending to read covers and feign an interest in titles until he felt he could leave. He headed towards the exit when he noticed a familiar blonde running in the streets. Lemon meringue and cream dripped from his face and he was obviously scanning the crowd for his older friend. Neji backed up towards the end of the store and hide himself behind a stack of reading material. His heart began to beat faster and he knew he wasn't ready to face Naruto again. There were much harder things to throw in the bookstore and he feared he might actually knock the poor boy out with a hardcover poem book to the face. However, things weren't a total waste. The Hyuuga scanned around and found a book on old jutsu's piled underneath some nameless covers. It looked like it was in good condition too.

'Maybe this would be something Sasuke would like.' Neji pondered to himself when he heard another customer enter. The longhaired boy glanced over to meet eyes with his training partner.

"Hi Neji!" The green beast started walking over, his bangs swaying slightly from the bowl cut.

Neji smiled at his friend, and then like a brick wall had slammed him in the face, a memory came shooting through the surface of his thoughts. "I need to talk to you!" He grabbed Lee's arm and hauled the unsuspecting boy away from the windows, just in case Naruto happened by again.

"Lee, I need your help with something. I was supposed to tell you this like a month ago. But I got sidetracked having to fix my floors."

"Oh?" The other boy leaned closer, intrigued by what his friend was about to say.

"Okay, I kind of told Sasuke that…we uh…" Shit. Neji didn't think this one through either. His brain was really disobeying him today.

"We what?" Lee egged on, curious.

"Uh…that we slept together." Neji decided just outright saying it would be easier then stumbling around it and turning red.

Lee stared at his friend as if not quite understanding what he just said. "Neji, when we go on long missions we usually end up sleeping together."

The Hyuuga restrained himself from slapping his forehand. "No Lee, not like that…sleeping together…as in…" He peered around to make sure no one could hear him. Besides the polite clerk drinking her tea, there was no one else in the store. The nin lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. "..sex."

"WHAT?" Lee shouted, hands clutching the side of his head. "Why would you say something like that! That's not true at all!"

Neji rolled his eyes, "Of course it's not true Lee. Look I can't explain it now, but I sorta lied to Sasuke an-"

"Lie? Yeah, I think you got that one covered!" Lee freaked, how many people heard this rumor?

"Lee calm down! Look, I had to pick a name and I just happened to pick yours. It's not a big deal really."

Lee didn't know whether to shake some sense into his friend who obviously just went crazy or be flattered that the hyuuga choose him. Truth was, he felt a little of both.

"You know I like Sakura-chan!" he retorted in a harsh whisper. "Wait, why did you tell Sasuke that?"

Neji fought against his will and managed to keep a blush from rising to his cheeks. "Look Lee, I just had to tell you that because in case Sasuke ever happened to bring it up, I need you to act like it happened. But don't worry, it's not like you'll even run into each other."

"Uh, actually. During the week you're on the mission, I've been volunteered to watch over Sasuke for his duties. The 5th didn't want Sasuke staying at your apartment alone, so he's being temporarily reassigned to my place."

"WHAT!" Neji's eyes almost bugged out of his skull. "You're kidding, right?"

Lee shook his head.

Neji sighed. "Well, it's a good thing I told you this now then, or else he could have found out."

"Found out what?" Lee quirked an eyebrow. "Neji, you really shouldn't lie, I heard every time you do an angel is-"

"Yeah yeah I know the story." The taller boy huffed. "Look Lee, just play along for me if it comes up. I promise I'll explain it too you later when I can."

Lee's bottom lips wobbled a bit and he embraced his friend tightly.

"Oh Neji, you know best friends will do anything for each other, for the spirit of our youth will fuel our everlasting…"

Neji groaned and closed his eyes; this was going to be a long-winded speech. After Lee had run out of breath, the prodigy paid for the book and after scanning if the streets were safe from Naruto for the time being, stepped out of the store. A sense of uneasiness filled him from the inside as he headed home. Lee always was a terrible liar…

Kowaikage: Okay, I decided to write and post this next part because I felt so bad for not updating sooner. That and it's also kinda short. /puppy dog eyes/ if you forgive me, I'll give you allllll a cookie!