This is my first fanfic I wrote using mine and my friends OC's Nirika, Raian and Mitsuko. Their character descriptions are in my account now, so feel free to look at them before reading (or not). Really, all you need to know to understand this story is something about Nirika...and the fact that Raian hates bugs. A lot. Enjoy the story, and remember: Reviews are good, like ramen. Very, very good...


"Nngyaa…so cold…"

Nirika's eyes fluttered open and glanced over at her bedside table. The digital clock's numbers showed that it was 9:17 in the morning. She shivered, her whole body shaking with cold, then realized that she had accidentally kicked the blankets off her bed while she had been sleeping. Groaning, she sat up slowly, trying not to move her body. Cautious as she was, a sharp stinging pain shot up her spine, making her wince. Yesterday's training hadn't gone too well for her. She knew that Raian had been improving on his taijutsu for quite some time, but she hadn't realized he had become that powerful. He had been juggling her in the air with some combination punches before slamming his leg into her spine, sending her face-first into the ground. Even though he had apologized profusely, and Mitsuko had managed to heal her a little, she was worried that he might've broken a vertebra or two.

"Damn it, this really hurts…Raian, you baka."

After fixing up her bed, her eyes caught something moving over by her open window. It wasn't until she got closer that she could see the fluttering object clearly.

"A butterfly?…"

It was the most gorgeous butterfly Nirika had ever seen. Its wings were a glossy, shimmering blue, and when the light hit them, they turned different shades of green and turquoise. Nirika brushed back her fine black hair and tentatively held out her finger. She was surprised when the butterfly drifted up, then down, before making a soft landing on the tip of her finger. She could feel the antennae tickling each subtle groove of her fingertip as the insect examined her. Suddenly, it rose off of her finger and flew out of the window. Nirika watched it skim over the Konoha rooftops before disappearing from her line of sight.

"Wonder what that was all about…And it was such a pretty butterfly, too."

She glanced over at her clock again.

"Crap! 9:35! I'm going to be late!"

With that, she hurried out of her bedroom in order to take a shower. She failed to notice the tiny ladybug, no bigger than her fingernail, quietly tucking itself into her weapon pouch.