Ritoru Taikoku

Nights with Neji

"You're sure I can do this? M-maybe it'd be safer to try when Kakashi comes back."

"You'll be fine, don't worry." Neji patted her head.

The sun set and her surges began. She began to breathe fast and her hair started to stand up. Neji knelt on the floor in front of her and took her hands. A blush crept up her cheeks as he looked into her eyes.

"Don't be afraid. I'll keep you safe." He promised.

Safe,

Safe,

Safe

She nodded, gripping his hands back. She involuntarily squeezed at each surge, trying to keep her eyes open.

"You're doing great." Neji used the back of his hand to caress her cheek to keep her calm. The vibrations in the air got faster but gradually relaxed. Her hair fell back down her back and she opened her eyes, now fully yellow.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

She looked around the room, seeing her chakra fly around and strike the walls like lightning but leaving no trace.

"Amazed..." she looked around. "Can-can you see it too?" Neji looked around the room and activated his Byakugan. "Yes." He looked back at her, seeing her entire form outlined by her buzzing chakra. It even went to the tips of her hair.

"When Kakashi was with me, at night, I could sense things about him. If he was hurt...cold..." she shook her head. "C-can I try to...see if...can I...sense..." She shook her head again and pointed to her eyes.

"You want to see if you can sense my Byakugan."

She nodded.

"Alright."

She smiled and held his hands tighter, closing her eyes. He watched her chakra focus at her hands, slid over to his, up his arms and chest. He felt it gently focus on his eyes.

He saw her smile, keeping his kekki-genkai active. "I can see it! I wonder if..." her chakra bolted from his eyes to hers like cracks of lightening. She opened her eyes...

XXx

Her eyes were glowing yellow but with veins on the sides to match Neji's. "I can see...everything!" she beamed. Neji was shocked. She was able to use his Byakugan to make her own.

He was speechless.

Raku could feel Neji's chakra, now that they were connected. She could feel that I was calm and controlled, just like Neji himself. It gave off a feeling that she could only describe as Neji. It was his chakra signature.

"You've adapted the Byakugan." He told her. "I wonder if you can do other kekki-genkai as well."

She stood up, still holding his hand as her chakra continued to buzz between them and she looked out the window. Seeing the chakra points of a couple walking down the street. "That's nothing. You can zoom in too."

Raku smiled and squinted, noticing her vision magnify.

She bounced up and down, turning to him. "I have so much energy! Lets go run! Or train!" she smiled.

"We're in our pajamas."

"So?" she smiled, retracting her chakra from him and letting go of his hand, the Byakugan she had disappeared as soon as she disconnected her chakra from him.

He smirked and climbed out the window.

xxX

After a long night of running across roof tops and a bit of training, they slept most of the day away. Waking up at 3, Raku started drawing. Her pencil move across the paper with a mind of it's own and when she finished she started to tear up.

It was a picture of Kakashi with his close eyed smile.

Neji woke up and went over to her. "what's wrong?"

She pointed at the picture. "I miss him."

"I'm sure you do. But, remember, he will be back soon. And I'm sure he'll be proud of you when he sees how far you've come." He ruffled her hair and left the room.

She wiped her eyes. He's right. Kakashi should be home next week. She flipped the paper to the next sheet and drew again. This one was Neji, giving her that blank look he usually did.

"Hm." She stood and went to the kitchen where she was sure Neji was making his morning tea. When he turned his head to look at her she used her fingers to pull the sides of his mouth up in to a smile. He let her. She giggled and ran back to the bedroom where she added her fingers pulling his lips into a smile to her drawing.

She added one more thing to finish it off and closed her drawing book.

"Can we go for a walk?" she asked, as Neji finished his tea.

"Sure, but the Hokage wishes for you to have a health check today. We have to do that too."

She frowned. "As long as it's a female doctor."

Neji tilted his head but she didn't go on. He decided not to pry. "I'll make sure of it."

XXX ~~

Raku has come so far! Now able to keep control at night and with a new vibrancy and zest for adventure.

REMEMBER: Comment answering the questions at the end of each chapter for an update!

1) Do you think the story will go Raku X Neji?

2) Do you hope it will? Or is there someone else you'd rather see her with?