Ritoru Taikoku

Night with Neji

That night, Raku shyly entered Neji's room when called for.

It was bare, no pictures, no colors. White walls and wooden floors. Minimal furniture.

"Well come on. I've got things to do tomorrow." Neji said cooly, a bit nervous himself at having a young woman in his bed. He had no romantic thoughts, but he was still nervous. He had to share a cot with Hinata once when they were about 6, but that was it. And he certainly didn't hold on to her in any way.

Raku blushed, her knee length nightgown fluttering in shades of blue as she made her way over to his bed.

"I was made aware of your requirements. I will do my best to...be..." He sounded unsure. "Comforting."

The difference in his tone made Raku feel a bit more at ease as she lifted the covers and slid under them. Unlike Kakashi, Neji didn't sleep in a top. He slept in white shorts only with his hair out of it's usual pony tail. He looked oddly elegant.

The male tried to relax as he turned on his side and let the tiny girl scoot up to him. She rested her head on his chest, blushing and shakey. She could year Kakashi's words.

Listen to my heart. Feel the rise and fall of my chest.

But it didn't work with Neji. He felt new. He felt a bit smaller. He felt...wrong.

Neji stiffly wrapped his arms around her. They had gone to bed early so Neji try to get her comfortable before her surges began. She leaned back from him and met his eyes, breathing unsteadily as her eyes flashed around the room then back to him.

"Shhh....no. it's okay." The words sounded unnatural coming from him, he was trying too hard to be soothing. Neji pulled her back to his chest, ignoring her protests in the form of her pushing back. Without her wrist braces, it was as easy as molding dough.

This was not a good move on Neji's part as it only added to her fear. Her heart pounded and her lungs felt tight. Her stomach turned and she felt sick.

He let go.

She bolted from the bed and into the bathroom where she emptied her stomach into the toilet.

xxX

When she slowly wandered back into the bedroom, teeth brushed, she eyed the room and Neji who opted not to look at her. One step at a time as if she would set off a mine if she walked too quickly or stepped too hard, she returned to the side of the bed. Her eyes began to glow yellow and Neji couldn't help but gasp. He felt the ripples in the air Kakashi wrote about in his report.

If he was successful in comforting her to sleep, he was told to expect to feel her chakra surround his body and told not to disrupt it or try to leave. He was told it felt a bit like static, but more...alive. It was warm, the report said, warm like a faithful blanket on a winter night. The jounin even went so far as to say it was comforting.

Her hair began to stand, she crawled towards Neji, going on top of the covers this time to create a barrier, and forced herself to curl into his chest like she did with Kakashi. The boy could see the fear in her eyes, how desperate she was to be under control. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, stiffly resting his head on the top of hers. He began to stoke her back like his father used to do for him as a child.

She flinched as he accidently touched a bruise on her back that was still a bit tender. The twinge of pain made him apologize and opt to pet her hair instead.

Raku's mind drifted to when she was being beaten by those men with stones, and how Neji came from nowhere. He had them all on the ground in only a few seconds and came to help her. He didn't know her. He made no gain by saving her, he had to reason to. (in her eyes) She was just a stranger. A silly little girl who wandered off.

But he did come.

He did save her.

He was a safe person.

She gave a sigh and relaxed more, her hair, once standing with static, began to drop down a bit. The vibrations in the air grew less violent as she willingly snuggled into Neji's chest to listen to his heart.

The heartbeat that saved her own.

She would do anything to return the favor.

Raku's yellow eyes slipped closed and she fell asleep.

xxX

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A bit of a shorter chapter, but there is a lot more to go so don't worry! I've written very far ahead so please be sure to answer the questions at the bottom of each chapter and vote!

Q1) Were you surprised at how things worked out? Why or why not?

Q2) Describe how you view Raku's personality, is she changing or staying the same?

Thanks for reading <3