"Lady Shinasui what do you mean you're going on a date?!" Neji's voice rang with concern as he watched the nineteen year old put on makeup. His arms were crossed and a sour look was painted on his features. He didn't like this one bit. Shinasui rolled her eyes.

"For the last time Neji, you don't own me...and it's just dinner. You can relax." He turned his nose up and closed his eyes in frustration, his long silky brown hair fell over his shoulders. 

"What's his name." Neji growled. Shinasui huffed before putting on her lipstick.

"Nao. I'm not telling you his last name because you'll end up stalking the kid." Neji growled further.

"Where did you meet." 

"We used to be in the Academy together. He saw me at Ino's shop, bought me flowers and asked me for dinner. Free food, how could I refuse?" Neji grit his teeth before sighing.

"Just be careful. Boys only have one thing on their minds. Especially if they are giving you something 'for free'." Shinasui smirked before putting on a coat and looking at her long time friend.

"Neji Hyuga...are you...jealous?" Shinasui gasped. Neji shook his head, a faint pink hue dusted his cheeks.

"Absolutely not. I have no reason to be." Shinasui felt her heart race a bit. She knew Neji was lying and reveled in it a bit. She smiled before kissing his cheek.

"Sure. Okay then. See you in an hour or two then Neji." Shinasui waved as she left, leaving Neji feeling alone. 

The Hyuga sat around her room and waited for her to make sure she arrived home safely. He tried to read a book but couldn't seem to shake the feeling that something was wrong. He ended up falling asleep on her bed and by the time he looked up, it was dark out and Shinasui was still not there. He looked at the clock and realized hours had gone by. 

"I should go check up on her..." Neji quickly got up and put on his jacket. Something in his chest just knew something bad was happening. 

"I need to hurry!" He quickly ran out the door and went into town.

~~

Shinasui was dressed nicely in a mid length black skirt and a kimono top with the Uzumaki clan symbol on the back. Her long silver hair was down and she walked quickly, already late for her first 'date'. She wasn't really interested in the guy at all and was out there to prove a point to Neji that she didn't need to be babysat. He was nice and was very rich, most likely used to getting any girl he desired. Shinasui only wanted Neji to see that she was an adult and if going out with another man was the way to do it then so be it. Shinasui made her way to the restaurant to see an average looking boy with light brown hair and dark eyes. He moved away from the wall he was leaning on and gave her a nice smile. 

"Sorry I'm late, I was finishing something up!" Shinasui gushed. She wouldn't tell him that the something was her makeup. Nao shook his head before laughing.

"Oh it's no big deal. I was thinking about that barbecue place a few blocks over?" Shinasui was surprised. That was one of the nicest restaurants in town...and really expensive too.

"Um are you sure it's not too much?" Nao laughed.

"My dad's loaded; I have plenty of cash." He winked and took Shinasui's hand in his. She felt a little uncomfortable with him spending so much on her but went with him anyway. They made it to the barbecue place only to see there was a long line and a wait list. Shinasui secretly felt relieved.

"Looks like this place is full, maybe Ichiraku's would be better..."

"Nonsense! Just wait one minute. I'm not having you eat trash like Ichiraku's while I'm here." A vein popped on Shinasui's forehead. Ichiraku's was her favorite restaurant along with her mother and brother...no one is too good for Ichiraku's ramen! Nao went to the host and whispered in his ear. Shinasui swore she saw Nao slip him some money. Nao walked back to her and slid an arm around her waist, increasing Shinasui's uncomfortable feeling. 

I should have stayed home with Neji. She thought to herself.

"Nao, party of two?" A hostess called out. Nao walked forward with Shinasui who caught a glimpse of the disgruntled customers that were annoyed with their cutting in line. They sat down at a corner table with a small grill in the middle to grill-your-own meat. A server quickly came by with two menus and a smile. The server quickly introduced himself before getting their drink orders.

"We'll have a bottle of the best sake you have." The server nodded. Shinasui immediately shook her head. She was still underage by a year after all. Nao was twenty, Konoha's legal drinking age, however she wasn't.

"I'll need to see ID for you both then please." The server politely said. Nao took his out along with a crisp 100 bill. 

"This is all the ID you need I presume." The server looked at his ID then took the money and smiled.

"Of course sir. I'll be right back." Guilt and uncertainty filled Shinasui as Nao flaunted his money by spending more than necessary. When the server left, Shinasui leaned forward with a whisper.

"Nao I am still underage!" She stressed. Nao shook his head.

"So?" Shinasui breathed out before sitting back. The sake came back along with a place of the finest cuts of meat for the two to cook together. Shinasui wished she was anywhere else but there. Nao wouldn't stop talking and bragging about how rich he was and that she was lucky to be with him etcetera...etcetera... Shinasui would politely smile and cast her eyes away from looking at him. She had one thing on her mind...and that one thing was going back to Neji. Nao made her feel uncomfortable and a little angry. After all, he flaunted his money in her face and used it to get around the rules.

"So what do you like about it?" Nao asked. Shinasui was shaken from her thoughts.

"Erhm...good...?" Nao furrowed his eyebrows, clearly angry before masking it.

"You didn't hear a word I just said did you." Shinasui shamefully looked down.

"I'm sorry, I just had a lot on my mind..." Nao smiled, an unseen hint of wickedness in it.

"Perhaps a drink then to calm your nerves?" He took the bottle of sake and poured some into her cup. He looked hard at the cup before sliding it back over to her. He smiled again.

"This should take the edge off." Shinasui felt uneasy. After all, she never drank before. She took it and reluctantly took a sip. It was surprisingly bitter and sour. Shinasui tried to mask her disgust before stuffing her mouth with beef to rid the taste.

"How is it?"Nao asked. Shinasui winced in her smile.

"Ahh...g-good!" She lied. Nao nodded for her to finish her drink and Shinasui did, the burn not as bad as the first time. The pressure continued throughout their dinner. Nao would say something Shinasui didn't like and he would change her mood by giving her a drink. Eventually, the nineteen year old finished the two bottles of sake on her own without her knowledge. She felt a little dizzy, her speech was slurring and her cheeks were flushed. Her stomach was aching and she didn't know what was going on around her. 

"I-...feel fun-ny..." Shinasui slurred. Nao gave a crooked smile before raising his hand.

"Check please." He said to the nearest waiter. After getting the check and throwing down some cash, Nao held Shinasui by the waist as she stumbled to leave the restaurant. As her and Nao left,  they came across Team Ten waiting in line to get in.  It was their weekly get together night away from the spouses and the kids. Ino, Shikamaru, Choji and Asuma stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey Shina!" Choji said with a grin on his face. Shinasui turned her head to look at them but Nao pushed her forward. 

"O...okay..." Choji slowly lowered his hand before turning towards his teammates. 

"That was weird." Ino looked oddly at the couple as Shina stumbled into the street with Nao.  Asuma shrugged.

"Ehh she's on a date." Shikamaru narrowed his eyes in speculation.

"I dunno guys. Something seems fishy about that guy. Shina always makes time to talk. Did you see the way that guy was touching her? Doesn't seem right."

"Naruto's protectiveness of his little sis is rubbing off on you Shika." Ino teased. Shikamaru pressed on.

"Maybe we should follow them." 

"And lose our spot in line? No way!" Choji complained.

Shinasui was taken by Nao into a nearby park where there were no loiterers around. There was little light and the animals were asleep. Nao sat Shinasui down on some grass where she had a difficult time sitting up.

"We're finally alone." Nao grinned before leaning in towards the blinking Shinasui.

"Wh-what are y-you do-ing?" Nao continued doing what he wanted to do all along. He forced Shinasui's lips on his, kissing hungrily as his arms trailed up and down her's. Her eyes were wide open and she attempted to pull away but ended up laying on the grass by accident. Nao placed his hand over her mouth as she struggled, the alcohol stopping her thinking and body movements. She screamed into his hand as he sucked on her neck, leaving giant red bruises in his wake. Tears dripped along Shinasui's cheeks as she struggled further, Nao being surprisingly strong. He reached a hand up her kimono top, making Shinasui scream and wiggle further. Nao pressed harder making her yelp into his hand.

"No one can hear you scream out here. You owe me after all the money I spent on you." Shinasui's fears came to light, realizing Neji was right...she should never have gone out. 

"You're mine tonight." Nao grinned maliciously.

~~

Neji used his byakugan to find Shinasui as he ran around town. After all, her chakra signature was so distinct that he could never miss it.  He ran towards the row of restaurants when he saw Shikamaru and his team waiting outside.

"Hey have you guys seen Shinasui?!" Neji asked. They gave him a blank look.

"Uh yeah she just walked off with some dude. They headed towards the park I think." Ino replied. Neji went to leave before Shikamaru grabbed his sleeve.

"Something seemed up with the guy she was with. I'd check it out if I were you." Neji nodded, his internal fears being confirmed. Neji darted in the direction towards the park. He was seeing two bodies of chakra, one of them with the unique signature he was looking for the entire time. When he got close enough, he saw that Shinasui was laying on the ground with some guy on top of her. Neji grit his teeth before shoving him off violently.

"Get away from her!" Neji yelled. Nao was fuming, he was just about to have his way with her.

"Who'd you think you are? I'm having fun with my girlfriend and you think you can tell me what to do?" Nao tried to square up with Neji...a terrible idea really. Even Naruto was still intimidated by Neji a bit. Neji's byakugan was still activated and he stood in front of Shinasui protectively.

"She is not your girlfriend. If you come another inch closer, I will end you." Neji hissed in a serious tone. Nao smirked dangerously before pulling out kunai and throwing it at Neji. He simply deflected them with chakra covered hands before hitting him in his first chakra point. 

"Two...four...eight...sixteen...thirty two...sixty four! Eight trigrams: Sixty Four Palms!" Neji yelled as he knocked Nao out and shut down his chakra points completely. Neji let him crumble to the ground, hitting his head in the process. His only focus was Shinasui. The girl was laying in the grass, her shirt was raised, exposing her bra-clad breast along with hickeys and bruises along her neck, arms, torso, and breasts. Tears and makeup stained her cheeks from the sobbing she was doing just a minute prior. Neji cradled her in his arms and was shattered at the sight. 

"I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner." Neji whispered to her. His eyebrows furrowed and he dispelled his byakugan. He blamed himself for not protecting her.

"I'm...I'm so-so sorry..." Shina whimpered into his muscular torso.

"Why?" Neji spoke so softly as he carried her home. He noticed she was intoxicated which made him want to go back and murder that boy.

"I should have listened to you...you're right..." Neji sighed.

"No Shina. This isn't your fault. He was a monster and I was an idiot for not saving you sooner."

~~

Neji took her home and tended to her throughout the night. She cried occasionally and got sick twice but he was just glad she was home and safe. Finally, in the late hours of the night, Shinasui was sobered up a bit and prepared for bed. Neji held a glass of water in his hands, his pupiless eyes were clearly tired. Shinasui was laying in her bed as Neji placed the glass of water along with two tablets of pain killers on her night stand. He turned to leave but his wrist was grasped before he could go.

"Please...don't go...I'm scared to see his face when I sleep..." Shinasui whispered with her head hung low. Neji turned to look at her with concern in his pale eyes. He saw her face as she mourned her failed evening. Neji felt hatred...white hot hatred for the man that did this to her. What he felt when he saw what he did...how hurt Shinasui was...it was something he never experienced before. Neji realized in that moment as he looked at the beautiful silver starlet before him that he was in fact attached to her more permanently than he once desired. He looked into her violet eyes and perfectly pouted lips and knew as he approached her...that the reason he was so angry...so worried...so protective...

He knew in that moment that he had been in love with her.

Neji came towards her and sat in the bed with her, caressing her partially revealed bruised skin. He gently traced the purple and red patterns before looking up in her tearful eyes. 

"I want to make you feel better. I want to make you forget all about it. I want to make you fall asleep with a smile." Neji spoke to her softly. Shinasui felt heat spread to her cheeks before nodding.

"May I?" Neji asked as he leaned in close. Shinasui lost her breath before speaking with a quiet and airy voice. 

"Yes." Neji moved forward and kissed her upper arm lightly, exactly where the bruise was...washing away Nao's sins and purifying Shinasui once again. Her eyes fluttered shut at the relieving feeling of his icy lips. Neji contined to move up her arm before moving to the next one, kissing every single bruise, making sure Shinasui knew she was loved with every touch. Neji kissed up to her collarbone and then her neck, slowly but surely removing the pain that Nao infected upon her. He even kissed the blossoming bruise between her breast which make Shinasui giggle a bit. Shinasui's thoughts were transitioning from fear to butterflies...her one love was finally revealing his feelings to her. He was never one for words but every kiss and trace of his fingers was another moment of saying 'I love you'.  Neji was hovering over her, their eyes locking and his silky chocolate hair was falling in front of his face a bit. It was as if it was their first time truly looking at one another...Neji's cheeks were flushed and his lips slightly swollen...Shinasui's violet eyes were soft and her body was warm.

"There's one more spot to go..." He leaned in...both parties eyes were closing...until two pairs of soft lips came together. They molded to each other perfectly...their lips parting only for breath.

"I love you." Neji whispered. Finally saying those words made him realize how hard he really fell for her. Shinasui smiled wide and the fear from her night finally vanished from her mind.

"See...I told you I would make you smile." Neji smirked. Shinasui wrapped her arms around Neji's neck before giving him another kiss.

"I love you too Neji."