Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or his friends that privilege belongs to another. I make no money off this story. Its also my first fan fiction though I have written other stories that are of the lesbian genre. Yup this is also my first mxm pairing wish me luck and please be constructive with your critism or else how will I learn?

Let Your Guard Down

Introduction

It was a rainy afternoon in Konohana and Shikamaru Nara was enjoying it. It was his day off and he now had an empty apartment. He was dozing on and off like the lazy nin others thought him to be. Nothing good lasts forever he thought when someone knocked on his door. He groaned and turned over hoping the person would go away. The Hokage would have sent a bird or an Ambu if she needed him and his best friend Choji was enjoying his new life of engaged and living with his girlfriend. His dad knew how to get into his house and his mother would have screamed his name out by now. No one else he could think of would be at his place in the rain. The knock sounded again and the lazy nin decided he better deal with his uninvited guest before it became too troublesome. He got up stalked to the door and opened in frowning. The shock of seeing Neiji Hyuuga wet and pacing in front of his door took his frown off his face.

"Neiji?"

"Nara" the Hyuuga said shocked as he stopped pacing and stared at him as if he expected someone else to be answering his door or as if he had just realized what he'd done. Shikamaru watched carefully as Neiji gave him the once over from his toes up to his boxer breifs and up to his face. Though he did linger on Shikamaru's stomach and then Neiji had his own look of shock which was barely discernable. Shikamaru realized Neiji had accomplished what only two other of his friends had;seeing him with his hair down. He ignored the heat he was feeling on his face and said

"Can I help you Neiji?"

"um yes can I come in?"

He nodded and let his wet comrade in all the while that brain of his was spinning wondering what on earth had Neiji so flustered that he visibly showed emotion and if it had to do with his visit here. Then there was the mystery of why Neiji was carrying a big duffel as if he had just come back from a long mission. He motioned for Neiji to sit and went to find him a towel and put water on for tea. Shikamaru had no idea what this was but he had a feeling it would take a while.

He handed the Hyuuga a tan towel and sat opposit him.

"You have a lovely home"

Shikamaru groaned Neiji was going to take the long route and he had no patience for it today he wanted to get back to sleep.

"Thank you now what can I do for you Neiji?"he said hoping to speed this process along.

Neiji took a deep breath and he said "I was wondering if you would let me stay here the night. I'll pay of course but I just got back from a month long mission and I am without a place to stay it seems. Its just for the night tomorrow when its not pouring down rain I will find other lodgings."

His voice caught on that word and the tea kettle whistled. Shikamaru went to get the water and necessary items for tea all the while thinking. A Hyuuga without a home was impossible most lived in the compound and those who didn't had enough money for a place. The question was why had Neiji been kicked out of the compound because that was the only reason he could think that would shake him so much that he was pretty much in shock and showing emotion. He brought the tea service back to the table served both Neiji and him and said

"We aren't the best of friends Neiji but we are friends and you are welcomed to stay here as long as you want or need. Choji moved in with Ino so I have a free room. I'll show you where the bathroom and stuff are. Choji paid for the groceries and cooked some. I take care of the rent and utilities so you'll actually be helping me."

This was a lie but one that the hyuuga needed. They both knew that they were well paid shinobi as a matter of fact they were both well paid Ambu though shikamaru's Ambu status was a very special one. He selected which missons would serve him best because he planned most of the missions for the city. The Hyuuga needed to feel like he wasn't a charity case, needed to feel as if he was helping. Even with that he wasn't sure he would stay but Neiji had been nice company the years after the war ended. They'd trained in Ambu together, been on month long missions together as Jounin and they played the occasional game of shogi together. Both Ninjas enjoyed peace and quiet so they sometimes enjoyed it together.

They sipped the tea quietly and then Shikamaru gave Neiji the tour of his medim sized but clean and sparse appartment. He ended the tour with "this will be your room if you want it. They are towels in the bathroom I have a long day tomorrow so I'm going back to sleeep."

he walked away and pretended he didn't hear the trembling voice of his very proud friend say a very small and wobbly "Arigato"

Chapter One

The day was grueling for shikamaru. He was stuck in a long meeting with the Hokage and the Elders then he had to assist in interrogations with Ibiki which was something he hated to do. He didn't see why he needed to be there for the interrogating but since it was his father's job and he was on mission it was his job now. Ibiki creeped him out. The torture and the way he had stared at him when he'd given him his Ambu tattoo. After the creep sessions ended he was supposed to have lunch but instead he was given an order to go and assist a class at the academy. While there he was supposed to check out a kid who seemed to have great aptitude for solving puzzles. a younger him the Hokage had called the kid. Shikamaru spent the rest of the afternoon with the young ones as he watched the kid's responses. It wasn't too bad at least Asuma's boy was in that class. Had it really been four years since the war? It was towards the evening that the day got interesting. Hinata was there at the end of classes to pick up Asuma's boy for Kurenai sensei and there was his opportunity. He thought she would make him work for it, having never outgrown her shyness but as they were walking home she said "I'm not sure if its coincidence you're here or if you want to ask me about Neiji. I hear he is staying with you"

"Its coincidence but now that you brought up the topic he is staying with me or he did yesterday. I am not sure if he is still there."

"Shikamaru-kun there is nothing I can really tell you its his story to tell. Besides I really do not know the specifics it all came suddenly. all I know is that Neiji was supposed to marry a woman. Something happened to make my dad doubt wether when the time came Neiji would do it or not. When he got home from mission yesterday he was asked if he would marry the woman. He said no and my father gave him the option of leaving the clan's premises and only coming in when he had business with us or disowning him."

"Wow he was that mad huh"

"That's just it he wasn't mad. My father and Neiji get along much better now. He was sad. He told Neiji it was to protect him. Neiji nodded and left"

Protect him from what? the only thing Neiji might be in danger from was if someone used the curse mark on him.. and maybe the Hyuuga elders would. What had neiji done? while away no less that would cause them to be mad and what was with the marrying the woman.

"Hinata this arranged marriage it was to benefit the clan?"

"Hai"

"So Neiji not marrying her would make the Elders mad"

"Hai"

"So has Neiji had a girlfriend or a woman he was close to perhaps in the clan or outside of it?. My best guess is your father or the Elders of your clan found out and in order to save him from being hurt by the elders your father removed him from the premises"

He watched Hinata's face as he spoke and she thought of something.

"Hinata what is it?"

"I can't shikamaru-kun I spoke too much already but if its what I think it is the Elders will not let it stand as Neiji just not living with us. They will probably argue my father's decision to let him go with just a slap on the wrist and they'll suggest exile or execution"

"Isn't that a little harsh?"

"No it is the way of the Hyuuga's to dishonor the clan is a grave offense. I really must go. May I come visit him some day? I know he must be missing his things.I can bring them"

"Hinata you are always welcome at my place but like I said I am not sure your cousin is staying with me permanently"

Hinata gave him that secretive smile women give and took off with Asuma's boy. Shikamaru went shopping. He'd been living on take out for a while and the house needed groceries then he carried his purchases home and was cooking by the time a very dirty and a very angry Neiji came in. He'd been training it seemed but it didn't seem to have helped with his anger.

"Dinner will be ready soon I'm going to follow it with a little bit of alcohol you are welcomed to join me."

Neiji nodded once and went into his room. He was there a long time, long enough for Shikamaru to go shower and change into something more comfortable. He stepped out of his room and served himself a plate that he ate in peace and quiet. Neiji came out and stared at him and it was then that he realizedhe hadn't put his hair back up after his shower.

"Uh yeah sorry I forget to wear my hair up in the house"

"You also forget to put shirts on in the house and sometimes pants. At least you have some on today. Its ok Nara its your house you can do as you wish in it"

Neiji got his food as Shikamaru finished up. He went to get the sake poured two cups and said "Neiji if you've decided to stay its your house too and you can do as you wish in it too" Shikamaru took his drink and poured another.

"how was your day?"

he asked the brunette and Neiji said "fine" in a voice that indicated it had not been.

"That bad huh? well drink up"

Neiji took the drink then choked on it.

"That's vile"

"What you've never had sake?"

"No Nara I've never had cheap sake"

Shikamaru laughed and said "well next time you buy the sake besides the cheap stuff has its advantages, it gets you there quicker"

"Where is there?"

"That place where you dont care how horrible your day was."

Neiji poured himself another cup and took it then he finished eating.

"you wanna play shogi?" Shikamaru heard him say

"hoping to play me drunk so you'll win?"

"I don't need you drunk to win"

"you havent beat me yet"

"I'm still learning you when I have you down i'll win"

Shikamaru couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Sure about that Hyuuga?"

"Shut up and get the board" Neiji said getting up to put his own plate away. Shikamaru got the board and set it up while Neiji cleaned the dishes and they set down to play a very interesting game of shogi. After two games shikamaru called it quits though.

"No if i play again you might win I can barely think" they were on their third bottle of sake.

"Shikamaru can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah as long as you stop saying can I ask you a question before you ask the question" both of them laughed at that.

"Do you think I'm selfish?"

"No reserved maybe, proud yes, selfish... no not at all why?"

"No reason can I-

"Just ask Neiji"

"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

Shikamaru was quiet.. Neiji Hyuuga had asked him a personal question... that was really odd.

"Why do you ask Neiji?"

"I dont mean to judge or anything I am just curious. You have a fan club of your own and Temari used to travel from Suna to here just to spend a few days with you but you're not married and you have no girlfriend. No one has heard about you with anyone they are speculations sure.. Temari was first then Sakura maybe but no one steady. why?"

"You know growing up that's what I wanted ;a house two kids a boy and a girl and a wife. Then I hit puberty and I realized girls are troublesome, girlfriends are overated and I know from dad that women are crazy. I realized that the one thing I wanted most of all was peace and quiet. so no girlfriend for me not until I find one that is not troublesome. sometimes I wish we could marry guys you know. Guys are not too troublesome for me. I mean sure the over excited ones like Kiba and Naruto are but guys get each other so no fuss no muss"

Shikamaru just happened to look over to grab the sake bottle and he caught the blush on Neiji's face and the look on as if he had been caught in something and then it clicked. The Elders must have found out that Neiji was messing with a man and that's why his uncle had confronted him about it and that's why it was dishonor to the clan. The hyuuga clan was old fashioned and not having Neiji produce an heir would be a waste or so they would think. He shook his head no. looked back at Neiji who was quiet and lost in his thoughts. No way was neiji bi or gay he was too strict, too rigid, too intense and he was a Hyuuga. Shikamaru gave a bark of laughter anbd shook his head again. I mean sure most shinobi nowadays were straight but you had a good fouty percent that were bi or gay and no one gave them hell about it. Shikamaru himself had found out after Temari that girls didn't quite do it for him. Could he have sex with a woman sure..his equipment worked but he hadn't found true pleasure with any of them and then he'd stopped faking. Then he'd met a guy and that had been amazing and it had lasted a long time too. Now he was single and not looking. He was so in his thoughts he didn't notice that Neiji was talking to him.

"Nara you ok?"

"Yeah sorry what did you say?"

Neiji hesitated it was as if he was about to ask Shikamaru a question and thought better of it. Shikamaru was sure he knew what question it was too. The Hyuuga said

"I said its late I should go to bed"

"Hai, goodnight" He told Neiji and lit a cigarette then stepped on the balcony. Thoughts of his ex and one male relationship always bothered him. He had been so sure that it would last longer. It had been stupid because he knew who his ex truly loved but it always hurt to think he hadn't been enough for the other shinobi. It was Shikamaru's second failure and it still hurt.