Hey all! Sorry it took a bit this time, but here is your last chapter or epilogue or whatever you want to call it! Yeah, sorry it's the end but that's how it goes. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. So, one last time...I don't own Naruto.

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

Italics are things in the past though only for the one part so hopefully it's not too confusing!

Epilogue

or Chapter Eight: Exiled

A few months later found not one, but two lazy ninjas resting in each other's arms, both too tired to really move. They had just returned from a weeklong mission to Suna and after reporting to the Hokage, getting cleaned up and attempting to remove the sand from their clothes, neither wanted to do anything more than to just sleep lying next to other, something they hadn't been able to do in those seven long days.

Sakura and Shino had been their mission teammates and even though Neji and Shikamaru had well established the grounds of their relationship between themselves, they still hadn't actually told anyone and wanted to keep it that way. Shikamaru gave the reason as it being too troublesome to go into any explanation about questions people might ask; he just didn't want to deal with it and didn't think he had to, and Neji, for once, actually agreed.

So, while on the mission they acted as they normally would, not doing anything to particularly make their relationship stand out, both kept fairly quiet per usual except when Shika commented on something "troublesome" or Neji glared at some member of their team for doing something wrong, but still, even those weren't as icy as they normally were. Yes, the two lovebirds (heheh, I couldn't resist calling them something!) thought they were being stealthy, they were shinobi after all, a jounin and a chuunin, they could pull off a simple guise of being teammates, friends but nothing more.

And it would have worked, had Sakura not already figured it out.

It was obvious to her that after the lovely dinner she had with the two boys that they were now infatuated with each other. She saw the quick glances they would sneak at each other, though it was hard for her even to notice. However, Sakura knew what she was looking for as she was sure Shino didn't see anything since he had no reason to suspect anything.

Sakura smiled to herself a few times during that mission whenever she caught the two of them standing near one another, discussing something about the mission. It was when Neji and Shino went a day ahead to meet up with their contact that Shikamaru approached Sakura.

"So I guess your impromptu planning worked Sakura. I have to admit you've got good strategic skills."

She just smiled and replied, "I don't know what you're talking Shikamaru. It seems to me, that if my plan did work then you wouldn't want me to be bragging about the success. Even though I'd be a little more careful if I were you since you're one to spill the secret before I am."

Shika's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing much. I've seen the way you two look at each other when you think no one else is looking, and it is really sweet. But I guess it's hard being on this mission, huh? Can't really do anything."

"Ehh…" Shika scratched the back of his head, "It isn't bad but yeah, we're just not ready to tell anyone since it's still new to us too. But Neji wanted me to tell you 'thanks' for your uninvited involvement as he put it."

Sakura laughed out loud at this. "No problem. I'm happy to help and I won't say a thing. Not even to Lee though he was quite confused after that night. Oh well." She smiled somewhat sadistically and Shikamaru took a step back.

"Uh huh."

"Oh! Before I forget, I have to give Neji-kun back his umbrella! I've had it for months now and kept forgetting to return it."

Shikamaru laughed as he realized exactly what Sakura meant. "Hehehe, I'll have to warn him to beware of kunoichi bringing gifts, or stealing property in this case even though it worked out well."

Smack

A very audible "Ouch! I didn't mean it that way! Gah, troublesome woman. Ouch! Stop it!" was heard by Shino and Neji as they made their way back to their teammates.

The sunglasses clad shinobi asked, "What do you think that's about?"

"Honestly," Neji said, "I don't really want to know." But he had a smile on his face anyway knowing that even if Sakura was beating up his boyfriend it would be his job this time to kiss him and make him feel better this time.

(Back to the present time!)

Neji lay with his back propped against the pillows and headboard and had his arms around Shika, whose back was to Neji's chest. It had been their first mission together since they had started their new relationship but an easy one. Neji still smirked at the thought that Sakura really did punch Shikamaru, glad that the other knew what it felt like but he still felt a little bad. No one should have to endure that much pain, save from Lee but he got himself into that situation so he has to save himself.

He looked down at his lazy lover, kissing the top of his head before asking, "Does the eye still hurt, Shika?"

"Errmmm," Shika mumbled as he slowly crept back into consciousness, "No, it's fine. I think she hit you harder last time than she hit me. You insulted her boyfriend, I was just annoying."

"Ahh, okay. Well I'm glad it's better, now I don't have to make it better or anything and I can get some sleep. Night." He settled back against the pillows and closed his eyes before feeling the body in front of him move. Neji opened his eyes to stare into Shikamaru's dark ones as he said,

"You know, it's actually starting to hurt again, I think you better do something. Just in case, you know?"

"Okay. If you insist," he said and pulled the lazy nin to him, their lips crushing together, as poor, injured Shikamaru thought, 'I should get hurt more often.'

A little while later found two resting with Shikamaru on his side, behind Neji and with an arm wrapped around the other's waist while he breathed in the soft scent of his hair.

"You know Neji," Shikamaru said lazily hoping the other hadn't fallen asleep yet.

"Hmm?" was all he got in reply. Good enough.

"I was thinking since Sakura knows about us, why don't we tell a few more people? I mean, I haven't said anything to Chouji and he's my best friend, and I know he probably wonders where I go every now and again. What do you say little spoon? (lol, I just had to call him that)"

"First of all," Neji said turning around and facing Shika, "I am not the little spoon. I just like having your arms wrapped around me." By which he pulled himself closer to the other and was quite happy when he felt the arms tighten around him.

"Second of all," he continued, "I think that's a good idea. We'll tell your teammates first though since mine are crazy and have lots of weapons at their disposal."

"Heh, good. I think I even know how to tell them and get a little payback in too."

Ino turned the key in the door and opened it quickly eager to see her two teammates, one of whom was her boyfriend. Chouji had been out on a mission for that past four days and she was missing her chubby teddy bear, while Shikamaru had been equally M.I.A. but not from an assignment. She wanted to catch up with him since they really hadn't talked or hung out in the last four five months as she and Chouji were usually together and Shika seemed to disappear or just drop in and out of the apartment, when she wasn't kicking him out, to say "hi." Though whenever Ino did exile him from his own home he didn't really complain anymore, if at all.

'Must have gotten used to it' she thought. 'I really hope Cho-kun is here!! If not though, I'll make him dinner and Shikamaru-kun too, it'll be good to hang out as a team again.'

Ino smiled to herself opened the door the rest of the way, stepping inside, shouting in only a pitch she could reach, "Cho-kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! Welcome back ba—"

clink went the keys on the floor as Ino dropped them, her eyes going wide as yet more evidence of her shock upon seeing, thankfully not her boyfriend but her other teammate in a heated make-out session on the couch.

The back of the couch was to Ino so she couldn't really see Shikamaru making out with whoever it was but she heard the lip smacking and very audible sounds of someone enjoying himself, not to mention she could see the top of Shika's pineapple shaped head moving erratically above the couch.

A few seconds passed and Ino blinked once…twice as during that time Shikamaru, who had heard Ino, decided to finally…come up for air. He sat up, the flushed face quite becoming him and looked at Ino, still in the doorway, and scratched the back of his head.

"Tch, Ino, could you close the door? It's gonna get cold in here." She stood still for a moment and then closed it behind her, still not taking her semi-bugged out eyes off the scene. "Thanks. Oh, Chouji's in his room but he should be out in a minute."

"Um…o-okay." She stumbled. "Did I-I interrupt something Shikamaru?"

"Eh? Oh, that's alri—ouch!" Shika yelled and looked down at his "companion" whom Ino still could not see though she blushed too. "You didn't have to pinch so hard. There's gonna be payback for that you know?" Shika said, rubbing his side.

"Ahem, cough I never realized you had a girlfriend, Shikamaru, why didn't you tell me?" Ino asked moving closer inside the apartment, trying to get a look at the object of Shikamaru's obvious affection just moments before. She wouldn't believe her eyes 'til she saw.

"He doesn't have a girlfriend," said Neji hanging one arm over the back of the couch and pulling himself upright. "He has me. And he didn't tell you because we've kept it to ourselves and, no offense, you'd probably tell the whole village if you knew, you're the town gossip after all."

"Aww, that wasn't nice Neji," Shikamaru said as his boyfriend turned back to face him, "I know it's the truth but still you didn't have to say it like."

"Yes, well, you didn't have to let her interrupt us. I was perfectly fine, unless…you weren't?" Neji smirked.

Shika glared heartedly. "No. That's not it and I'll make it up to you."

"Good." Neji smiled and snaked his arms behind Shikamaru, pulling him closer.

"Mm..I aim to please after all, despite how troublesome you are." Shika leaned in to make things up…

"N-neji-kun?"

…but kissed a cheek instead of what he was really after. Damn.

"Yes?" Neji asked, a little exasperated.

Ino raised her hand pointing from shinobi to the other and looking at each as she did so.

"You and Shikamaru? My lazy-ass teammate who doesn't give the time of day to anyone or anything aside from clouds, and you the ice-cold, fate obsessed Hyuuga prodigy, are together? As in dating? Or at least as in casually making out on furniture if what my eyes tell me is true?"

She was still pointing at them and still slightly pink in the face.

Neji was about to retort something about the "ice-cold, fate obsessed" comment but Shika put a hand over his mouth.

"Yes, Ino, we're together. Neji's my boyfriend, we've going out for four and a half months. And I'll save you the trouble from asking, yes it's true. It's not some ploy or scheme, we really are together as hard as that may seem to believe."

"Oh."

"Tch, we were going to tell you a little differently, not have you walk in on us. But we told Chouji first, since Neji's gonna spend the weekend here and I figured the roommate might want to know. He's packing his things right now. And we decided it was about time we told our friends."

Ino smiled and said, "That's wonderful Shikamaru. I'm really happy for the two of—wait. Did you just say he's spending the weekend here?"

"Yes, he did," Neji said. "The plumbing in my building is being replaced and it's going to take a few days, and I'm not one to go without a shower for that long, so Shika, being the kind and non-troublesome person that he is, decided to put me up for the weekend."

"But I was going to stay here this weekend!!" Ino began to get red in the face as she suddenly saw her wonderful weekend disappearing from view.

"Now, now Ino-chan," Chouji said coming from the hallway, "You kicked Shikamaru out plenty of times, he can do it to me once. It won't be that bad."

"But, but Cho-kun! What am I going to do with myself? I won't be able to see you at all!" Neji and Shika just looked at each smugly at this.

Chouji came up to Ino and put an arm around his girl, "It'll be fine. I'm staying with Naruto for the weekend, so you can drop by and pick me up anytime."

Ino pouted but relented in the end. "I guess this is what I get for exiling you so many times, huh?"

"Yep. Now, if you'll excuse us," Shika said and pulled Neji up off the couch, "I have to get Neji settled in. Have fun this weekend Ino, Chouji." He waved his two teammates out the door, smirking at the fact that Ino was still shocked and red in the face, and turned to his awaiting boyfriend now that they had the apartment all to themselves.

"So," Neji asked after pausing to kiss his boyfriend, happy with how the afternoon played, "How does it feel to be the one doing the exiling instead of being the exiled?"

Shika just wrapped his arms around Neji's back and smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

End!

Thanks to Missalissa, dark-night-sky, Heosic-chan, Necury, Concise Complexity and Paachaaaw for your reviews from last time! They made me very happy and thanks to everyone who reviewed this story!! Much appreciated, I'm glad you all liked it.

It was wonderful to write and I'm sorry it had to come to an end but you all made it worthwhile!! I'm really happy with how it turned out and I hope you all are too. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel or not, at this time I'm not planning on it but there could be, I don't really know. So, nothing for sure yet. But we'll see.

Thanks so much again for reading and reviewing!! byes!!!

brevity