I don't Inuyasha or Naruto, they belong Rumiko Takahashi and Masashi Kishimoto.

Beta:RomanticPrincess

Thank you, Dear!

This chapter has been a grade A-bitch to write, I hope it's enjoyable for all of you, because I felt like I was wading through a hurricane to get it onto FF. Hopefully this doesn't sound to forced, and for those of you who dislike flash backs….there are going to be several in the next few chapters! Hope it turns out alright for everyone, and please review.

Chapter 2

Kagome sighed, it was now nearing the second month that the ninja, Hyuuga Neji had stayed with them at the temple. It had been interesting; apparently Konoha had completely forgotten about the Temple of Fire's children. For coming here was the first time that Neji had even heard of this place, he'd heard and seen of the Fire Lord's men, and temple but it was nothing like this place.

He would be leaving soon and her heart felt as if it would shatter, Kikyo was right in her worry when she had cried that Neji would be stealing Kagome from the temple. While her body would stay, her heart would never remain the same. But she could look over the memories that they had created over the past two months of his rehabilitation, with joy and peace.

Pinching herself lightly, Kagome returned to her meditations, her eyes closed, and her breath deepened. A soft glow seemed to spread around Kagome, as she reached deeper into her soul a fiery combination of colors seemed to swirl and snap around her form.

That's what Neji found, he could feel something in the air inside this chamber were she meditated, but he had never truly understood what was happening. It seemed that all the priests and priestesses did this at least once a day if not more than that, but he couldn't truly comprehend all that was happening when they did this. It felt like chakra, but it was so much more potent and seemed to be almost sentient in the way it would move rippling and waving around the person in question.

Frowning, Neji pushed chakra into his eyes perhaps if he saw what this was with the Byakugan things would be a little different. As his eyesight changed, so did the air surrounding Kagome and left Neji feeling completely confounded he'd never seen anything like it. For one, Kagome's chakra coils….were different, much like Lee's they were twisted and mutilated, but Kagome's seemed to work fine. But the energy inside the coils was completely different than what ninja's used, instead of the blue, or green medical chakra. It was a strange fiery Opal of different colors, laced with silver, and gold marbling, but it had a completely different feel to it than the strange Gold Chakra that Gaara had once held when Shukaku had been held within him, or the vicious Red Chakra that occurred when Naruto used Kyuubi.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked from behind him.

Blinking Neji turned, to look at who was speaking it was Kikyo. It was a very uncomfortable feeling, to have this woman who looked so much like Kagome stare at him with unbridled distain. While he'd stayed here he had often wondered if this was what had angered Naruto when they had fought in their first chunin exam.

"I was curious." Neji finally replied, his Byakugan still in activation as he stared at the brown eyed woman.

Kikyo frowned, marring her pretty face "And this caused you to activate your Kekkei Genkai?"

"Hai, the energy that you and the other occupants of this temple give off is different than the chakra that Ninja use. I wanted to see if Kagome possessed the same chakra coils that I possessed, instead they are very much similar to that of my teammate…in fact from what I've been able to see all the priests and priestesses have these mutated or twisted coils, creating actual coils instead of straight lines or large loops, like a ninja's pathway." Neji stated, he might have been watching Kagome at this particular time, but he'd also watched the others of this temple.

Kikyo blinked in surprise, "And how is the energy or chakra different than that of a ninja's?"

"Well, the energies of this temple are varied, for example there are only two normal colors of chakra the universal blue, or green medical chakra. Then there are mutations of this chakra like the Hatake's white chakra, or "demonic" chakra that comes with being a jinchuriki. But Kagome's is much like a fiery rainbow incased in white, being marbled or threaded by silver and gold. You're energy is much calmer…like a river of natural colors blues, purples, green occasional threaded with red or pink like flowers." Neji finished, as he continued to look at Kagome's energy, it was breath taking.

Kikyo frowned, "Hyuuga-san…what is this chakra made up of?"

"A balance of physical and spiritual energy, why?" Neji finally released his Byakugan to study the woman.

"That might be the reason. We as members of this temple do not manifest physical energy the same way Ninja do, those colors you saw surrounding Kagome and I are overly large manifestations of our souls…" Kikyo answered, it was certainly an interesting topic.

Neji blushed, that was a rather intimate thing to do. At least that was what it felt like to him, it was almost as bad as when Kiba accused him of being a pervert to see through woman's clothing. None of the rookie girls had talked to him for weeks. At least until Hinata returned home from a mission with Naruto, and explained the purposes of being able to do so; that she and Neji like everyone else in there clan could simply find chakra coils without having to go through the clothing. "I see."

Kikyo tried not to smirk at the blush that was covering the man's cheeks, he was so easy to tease and amusing.

Kagome sighed, she always felt rejuvenated when things went well in her meditation, blinking she blushed slightly at the conversation and could almost see her sister's smirk. Sighing, she pushed up from her position to stand behind Neji, before peeking around to see his blush, "What are you to talking about?"

Neji did not visibly jump, but he did internally it was strange how silently and efficiently the people of this temple could move. There was a fluidity to their movement that many lacked, he sighed he was never going to get used to the silence that was here.

"He was looking at your soul, Kagome," Kikyo chimed, before turning to walk away.

Neji's cheeks heated again, it seemed that no matter what he did when Kagome was around his heart seemed to jump faster, while his nerves were set fluttering.

Kagome blinked, that was interesting a bit personal, but interesting all the same "Well, what does, it look like?" A childlike look of curiosity was easily seen on her face.

Neji blinked in surprise, Kikyo had said that simply to make Kagome mad at him she'd done so several times while he'd been there. Thankfully Kagome seemed to take those things with a grain of salt, "It was rather lovely….Much like an Opal marbled with silver and gold."

Kagome smiled happily, a faint blush on her cheeks "That sounds pretty, thank you for telling me." Pecking the man on the cheek she waved, before returning to her duties.

Neji turned abruptly away from the woman, he generally did not blush heavily but being touched by her or kissed by her always sent heat to his cheek, down his throat and to tip of his ears. It was a most uncomfortable feeling, he hated this weakness that made him loose his cool, his control. He hadn't felt this out of sorts since his fight with Uzumaki, admittedly Gai and Lee sometimes made him loose it, but she did it with such little effort it was infuriating.

"Neji, Neji! Neji!" Kagome sighed, he always did this when she touched him, or gave small hints of his affection.

"Hai?"

Kagome sighed, he'd gone off into that thinking area again. She wondered if he ever did this sort of thing on a mission if he did it could get him killed. "Walk with me?"

Neji stared, before nodding glancing at the woman beside him, before he offered his arm. "Where is it you wish to go, Kagome?"

Kagome smiled, taking the arm "I would prefer the gardens, hm?" She asked looking up towards him, a soft smile on her face.

Neji nodded, before looking at her once again. There was tenseness inside her that he'd never seen before, a tinge of sadness in her eyes and smile. It was bizarre; Kagome was one of the few people in his life that refused to bow down to her sorrows and would continue to smile through her uncertainties and fear.

"What is it that bothers you?" He finally asked.

"Do you remember when you woke and found yourself without the Bird Cage Seal?" She asked, amusement sneaking in to her voice.

Neji groaned as he thought about the day, he'd never made such a fool of himself before anyone, not even when Hanabi had snuck into his room while he was sleeping and braided his hair into thousands of small individual braids which had been humiliating and painful.

Kagome could only chuckle softly at the look on his face, he really was an endearing person. He was a person who tried to keep everything locked away, so very controlled of every action that was taken. But there was such strength inside him, even when he had been injured, a person could see the quiet fire that burned so deeply inside him. Kagome smiled as she remembered, she didn't want to admit it but she took a deep pleasure in knocking Neji out of his comfort zone.

Neji coughed lightly, his ribs still hurt but nothing like they had when he'd first woken up in this strange place. Konshu was very far from where he had fallen, apparently the river had taken him much farther than he had expected.

"Oh, you're awake again!" A soft voice stated somewhere above him.

Neji nearly groaned again, his eyes felt swollen and blurry it was such a strange feeling, "Hai," Turning his head, he could once again see the woman who had been taken care of him during his unconscious state.

"May I ask your name?"

"Hyuuga Neji."

"I see, may I call you Neji?" Kagome asked.

"Hai, who are you though?"

"Well, I'm simply known as Kagome here, but my surname is Higurashi." A soft smile and glittering blue eyes met his face.

He couldn't move, but he had to admit that the soft feeling of her fingers upon his cheek sent him into a dreamlike state. "How long will I be here?"

"Oh, for a month or two. You've managed to do a large amount of damage to your body. Now, tell me about the seal that was placed upon your forehead." Kagome stated, a rather serious expression on her face. She recognized the basics of the seal, their temple had created it several decades ago to be put upon important runners for the Fire lord. This version was nasty; the ability to turn another's brain into mush wasn't something to be given to another. Then again their version never killed the runner's or damaged the brain it just ensured that it was inaccessible.

"It is the bird cage seal, all the branch members of my family have them placed upon their foreheads when they are old enough….Why do you ask?"

"Oh, well my sister and I removed it! It had a number of detrimental attributes, that we felt were too dangerous to leave in place!" Kagome smiled, she had a feeling she'd only gotten that much information because he was still disoriented from waking.

Neji blinked, before a choking laugh escaped his lips, "What a dream," he muttered, loudly enough for Kagome to hear. It was fate that he would be forever cursed with the mark. But that would change for the future generations of Branch members and that was all that really mattered.

Kagome could only chuckle, the next day when he'd been coherent enough to sit up and see his own forehead in the mirror, had been more than amusing.

Kagome smiled, "Good Morning Neji. Do you feel well enough to set up?"

"Hai." Neji sighed, it would be good to move but it was going to hurt more than he was expecting.

It took a few minutes between the two of them, to get Neji into a proper sitting position that would ensure that it wouldn't hurt his ribs too much.

"Neji, I'll be back with something for you to eat. And something to wash off, hmm?" Kagome asked, a cheery smile on her face.

"Hai…Thank you." Neji nodded, his head toward her, with that she turned and left the room. Looking about he noticed a large mirror that was seated in front of a small vanity like area that seemed to hold a number of herbs and lotions and creams decorating its top. He felt his eyes widen, it….it hadn't been a dream….it was really gone. He could feel a shock set in, his heart seemed to jump before everything went black.

Kagome frowned, she'd only been gone for a few minutes when she heard a loud thump pushing the rice paper door open she blinked….what on earth? Did he pass out or faint? Shaking her head at the thought, Kagome put the items down nearby, before grabbing her smelling salts from her vanity waving the salts from side to side.

Neji groaned….that had hurt the throbbing in his chest was something that he hadn't planned on having to go through. He'd cracked ribs before and this was always the worse part about it, the damn throbbing. A shaking hand moved upward, tracing his forehead once he could feel the chakra circulating just behind the skin inside the tattoo…but it was completely gone, he couldn't even feel any residual chakra.

"Ne, are you alright?" Kagome asked, looking at the man he was tracing over the now non-existent seal.

"Hai….So it's really gone?" Neji asked, his voice was trembling a mixture of fear and hope.

Kagome nodded, "Indeed, no one will be able to put a seal upon you unless you wish it."

"I thank you…I never dreamed that would be free." Neji gasped.

Kagome smiled softly, gently stroking his hair, "That is what this temple was created against, those who are controlled and those who are weak and injured…"

"Still, I thank you….it wasn't required." Neji stared at the woman, he wondered if this was the freedom his father felt when he knowingly walked to his death. He was so tired…maybe he would take a small nap…Emotions really wore a person out.

Kagome's smiled grew in amusement, "Just remember to fly Neji. I believe you're going to need that ability when you return to Konoha." Moving the food and bathing materials, Kagome smile faded before she turned to leave, it would

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"It's a good memory, it might be a bit embarrassing. But it's something I'll remember." Kagome replied, looking up at him.

Neji asked her in surprise, "Why would you want to remember something like that?" As he continued to look over the garden.

Kagome simply chuckled, before pulling the taller man along with her. This particular garden was a favorite, it was surrounded by tall slender trees that were several meters high, after walking through the field of trees a large pound and river could be seen, there were a number of small oriental bridges that seemed to lead the walker farther and farther away from the main temple. If one continued to follow the small irregular pavers, and bridges they would eventually find themselves at a large ornate pagoda which was surrounded by water. Lily pads and lotus blossoms could be seen floating lazily upon the water; cat tails sprouted around the edges while a number of large koi in an array of fiery colors could be seen swimming lazily in the water.

"Because it's of you." Kagome smiled, out at the world as she sat, enjoying the peace and calm that always seemed to find her at this particular pagoda.

Neji smiled, it was small and nearly invisible, one could miss it altogether if they weren't looking, but it was there. For some it was relatively easy, like his teammates or family, but for the rest of the world it was much like the Hyuuga clan, stoical with very little visible emotion.

"Stay."

Neji's smile faded, "You know I can't," Neji moved, standing behind her he began to stroke her hair, playing with the long raven's black mass that seemed to be never ending. Strong hands continued to move stroking over closed eyes and high cheek bones, before dipping to slim but solid shoulders.

Kagome sighed, "I can dream," her voice was shakier than normal and she was angry with herself for allowing it to be so, she wanted nothing more than for him to remember her as a strong woman. "Will... will you at least spend the rest of your time here with me?" Kagome asked, her own hand covering his as she turned to look up at him.

"Hai," Neji's soft smile returned, before he bent kissing her lightly he could almost feel the light blush running across her cheeks. Pulling away, he pushed forth again kissing her roughly pouring everything into her, picking up her small delicate body he wanted to laugh again when her arms wrapped around his neck in a hurry to keep her balance before he moved her into his lap. Settling on the bench with her in his arms was the best thing he could remember, so soft, sweet and pliant within his grasp.

Kagome gave a contented sigh, as he assaulted her lips she could feel his tongue rub lightly against her bottom lip to ask for entrance into her mouth and she couldn't say no, now could she? Tongues slipped together in an age old battle, while he ran his hand up and down her sides. Contentment settled in her heart, and she knew that when everything was said and done it would be a long time coming before she found happiness without him beside her.

Neji knew this was wrong on a number of levels but he couldn't find it inside himself to feel remorse. This place was fast becoming their own, days after he'd been well enough to walk they'd stolen secret glances, a loving caress and quick feverish kisses all of this had taken place at this particular pagoda. The attraction had been there on his side from the moment those gentle finger tips had awakened him from his injured slumber, the desire to stay, to remain dead to his duty and family it was more tempting than it should ever be.

Neji stood with the trembling woman in his arms, before he left the pagoda, left the tranquil area. What he had in mind had nothing to do with peace, and everything to do with a deep frenzied passion. He would show her that before he left, make sure she understood his love of her, his want and need. When the morning came, two satisfied beings lay in the early light boneless and satiated with their passion.