Ritoru Taikoku

Anything to Protect

Even as Raku slept, she worried about Neji being in pain. She pulled her chakra in from patrolling the room to surround Neji's body, gradually getting tighter until it outlined him. Neji, who was watching with his Byakugan, watched as her chakra seemed to come from not her stomach like the rest of shinobi, but her heart. He then glanced down at his own body seeing even through the blanket, her chakra whizzed around him, moving over his skin in a barely noticeable gentle graze. He saw the yellow focus on his small cuts, glowing brighter as it moved over it and the pain was gone. He felt one bit of chakra slide up his body to his face and its warm touch licked at the cut on his cheek, making it disappear. The chakra then repeated the motion for his bruises.

Meanwhile, Raku clung tighter to Neji with a worried look on her face, despite being asleep. When she was satisfied, she relaxed again and began to lightly snore.

xxX

The next morning, she sat up and stretched. Neji sat up as well, noticing how she didn't throw herself off the bed this time. They got out and he watched her make the bed, his gaze lingering on her bottom for a bit longer than it should have. When she began to turn around, he cast his eyes to the window.

He's still a teenage boy, after all.

The long haired shinobi turned to leave the room and begin breakfast as he had the day before when-

"Neji." Her voice was soft.

He stopped, then slowly turned around.

She was grasping her hands nervously in front of her chest and looking sideways at the floor. "I...I...thank you."

"It is my duty."

That stung a little.

"And I wanted to ask...I...I would l-like...could y-you..." she shook her head in frustration. "I would like for you to train me."

Neji's eyes grew wide. "Train you?"

"Yes. I...I don't l-like being useless. I w-want to pr-" she blushed "protect people t-that are important t...to me."

"You're not interested in learning how to protect yourself?"

Neji glanced at her petite frame that lacked any muscle required to fight. She had chosen to sleep in one of Kakashi's tee shirts. It hung off her thin shoulder and went almost to her knee, falling straight down over her. There was still sleep in her eyes and her long white hair was a tangled mess. She looked like a child.

She shook her head. "No. I a-am not imp-important...." She licked her lips nervously. "I j-just want to keep p-people safe."

"It would be a lot of work. It would be painful."

Raku flinched, "W-whatever it takes."

"And you would have to fight."

*That hurts people* she frowned. *But if it's to protect those important to me...* Images of Kakashi and even one of Neji flashed in her mind.

She nodded and clenched her fists, meeting Neji's eyes. "Anything to protect those who are important to me." Her eyes hardened.

Later that day Neji had her studying anatomy and even chakra points. Neji was only versed in gentle fist style, and even though it was very unlikely she would ever pick it up he wanted to at least let her try. Perhaps if she got too frustrated he would suggest Lee or TenTen try to teach her. Her body was too weak to fight at that point so he designed a workout plan for her as well.

~~ 2 weeks later~~

"So...here," Raku touched a spot on Neji's arm, "and..." her eyes searched his flawless skin. "here." She touched another spot.

"You're about an inch off, on both accounts."

She sighed and looked down.

"Maybe you need motivation."

She looked up at him, curiously.

xxX

Ohhhhh.

Q1) What do you think he will use to try to motivate her? Will he attack her? Clones? Words of encouragement? Or something else?

Q2) Do I describe Raku's chakra well enough? Can you picture it?