Ritoru Taikoku

The Selection

Raku sat with Kakashi in sitting room as the suggested pre-approved companions were assembled. Each was sworn to secrecy, and had been over her file time and time again, read all of Kakashi's reports as well. All were aware that the ninja chosen was completely up to her. Each of them were about Jounin level, Might Gui and Kuranai were going with Kakashi. Asuma declined the offer to be one of Raku's choices. He didn't feel comfortable having a young girl hang off him and share his bed at night. Kakashi believed she would be best with someone about her age, anyway.

The door opened. "They are ready." Said the medic, who had just checked over all of their general health to they could record any changes that may occur from exposure to Raku and her wild chakra.

Raku's eyes began to flash yellow with fear. "Easy now, Raku. I approved them all personally. You can trust any and all of them. They will keep you safe-" "And keep the village safe from me." She finished.

Kakashi pursed his lips in surprise at how morbid she was. He led her by her shoulders into the room, keeping a hand on her for comfort.

Four male shinobi stood in front of her. A dark haired boy who's hair looked a bit like a ducks butt, a tall, lanky boy with glossy hair and large eye brows, a jonin with brown hair over one eye and a bandana on his head and a boy with long dark hair and white eyes.

That was her first glance. She looked closer.

The first boy didn't seem very interested, the second with the green jumpsuit was excited and passionate, the jounin appeared dutiful with hard eyes. As for the last boy...

Raku gasped, recognizing this as the boy that saved her from the men with the stones. She ran over to him and wrapped her thin arms around him, nuzzeling his chest.

"Very well." Kakashi was shocked she chose that boy. He wasn't very nurturing or a good listener. But his byakugan may allow him to stop her if her surge gets out of control and he was one of the strongest chunin the village had to offer.

The other nin left with indifferent looks.

"This is Neji Hyuga." Kakashi said, lightly tugging Raku to let go of the confused boy so he could look at her.

"This is Raku."

The girl frowned and looked up at the elder shinobi. "I don't have a last name."

Kakashi frowned for a moment before using his easy going tone. "Then you have your choice of the lot! Anything you want!" he smiled.

She was quiet and looked down. "What is it?" he asked.

"C-could I use your last name, Kakashi?"

Neji, who was standing in silence, was surprised at the lack of formality.

Kakashi thought about it. "Sure! Raku Hatake!"

She smiled and hugged him, he hugged her back and rested his chin on her head. Neji was dumbfounded. He had not expected Kakashi to actually get attached to his mission. He actually seemed happy to hold her.

Neji scrutinized them, feeling an odd pit in his stomach that was almost jealousy. The cocky attitude and cold disposition he always had helped him become a strong ninja. But on a more personal level, Neji had never had a girlfriend...or a first kiss...hell he had never even hugged a girl.

Raku's body had filled out nicely now that she was healthy. Her breasts seemed to be finished growing, now a C, her romper and belt accented her curvy figure and she had a thin, gentle face.

As if he knew, Kakashi shot the teen a death glare and hugged her a little tighter. Neji rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, giving up on those thoughts.

The hug stopped.

"Neji will collect your things tomorrow, the day after I am leaving before dawn so you will spend tonight with me, then Neji will collect you at 5 PM tomorrow."

She nodded.

"Thank you, Neji. Funds to care for her will be transferred to your account tomorrow morning. See you!" Kakashi waved and, with his arm around Raku's shoulders, walked out.

xxX

"Raku, I was wondering..."

She looked up from her dinner plate.

"Why did you chose Neji? I saw you reading each of them but I expected you to pick Rock lee, the boy in the jumpsuit. I thought maybe he could bring you out of your shell."

Raku poked at her broccoli with her chopstick. "I like my shell." She looked up again. "I chose Neji Hyuga because I know him."

Kakashi tilted his head in confusion.

She put down her chopsticks and took a breath. "He is the boy that saved me...from the men with the rocks." Eyes cast down she got quiet.

Kakashi was unaware of who brought her to the hospital, he ran off to her room before he could be told that detail.

"Oh, I see." He continued eating.

xxX

Kakashi noticed Raku held on to him extra tightly that night. He returned the favor, promising he would return alright and as soon as he could. Raku listened to his heart beat, then with her chakra she found the sound of the blood in his veins. She focused on that, healing a bruise on his shin when the blood she was listening to got to that spot. It sounded like rushing water, then like tossing a pail of water at a damp sponge. She didn't like the sound, and she didn't like that he was injured. So she corrected it. Her yellow chakra blazed extra bright, illuminating them in the darkness of his room. She tried to memorize his vitals, the detail of his face, the exact shape of the scar over his eye. She wondered if she could fix that, too. Kakashi noticed her looking. "It's a scar, not an injury. You can't fix it. Besides," he smiled. "It holds too many memories to want to get rid of it."

xxX

Before she knew it, Neji was at the door. He collected her things while she and Kakashi went to Ichirau one more time so he just had to escort her to his home. Raku refused to cry as she said goodbye to her guardian. With the promise of his safe return and a kiss on the forehead, Kakashi closed the door of his apartment as the teens walked away.

"You recognized me." Neji spoke after a moment.

"Of course. I wouldn't be alive if you hadn't found me." She got quiet before asking. "How did you find me?"

For a moment, Neji was surprised she hadn't heard of the kekki-genkai of the Hyuga clan. Then he remembered her upbringing, or lack there of.

"I was training with my kekki-genkai, byakugan. It allows me to see all of the chakra points in my opponents body, as well as through solid objects quite a distance away." He glanced at her, seeing her look up in innocent wonder. He looked back at where they were going and went on. "I thought I heard something. So I looked and focused in the distance. I could see them. Then I saw you."

"And you came to rescue me!" she smiled.

Neji didn't speak, much to her disappointment. She was so used to Kakashi and his supportive, happy attitude. Neji was like a bucket of ice water to the face. None the less, he'd begun earning her trust even if it was unintentional.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading! Please answer these questions and I'll post the next chapter!

Q1) Who, from the choices provided, did you think she would have chosen if she didn't know any of them?

Q2) How do you think things will go with Neji?