(A/N): Tada! Next chapter! (Sorry about the delay. I really had no access to the internet while I was on vacation.)

Thank you for all the reviews .

Genre: Drama/ Angst/ Romance

Rating: T… I think there's a bit language in this one…

Disclaimer: Nope.

…Enjoy…

Previously: Neji has to put the 'caged bird's' seal on May's back. Confused, he suddenly had to empty his stomach's contents.

May will start her training shortly, first, with some basic taijutsu moves.

Chapter 6

"Annoying smile"

As she slid the main door closed to one of the branch member's houses, she witnessed Neji leaning calmly against a wall, his eyes looking directly at her.

"Oh! S-sumimasen… I did not know you were there, Neji-sama… I-" She stuttered out slightly, her figure leading herself automatically to bow down to her 'master'.

"I assume your first day of training went well?" He stopped the girl from continuing, bringing his eyes to the wall in front of him.

She stayed silent for awhile, her gray eyes blinking a few times. That… was unexpected.

She then looked up from her bowing position, a smile slowly developing on her slightly tired face.

"Umm… well, Kurenai-sensei wants me to improve my taijutsu skills…" Her grey eyes unintentionally lingered on that of the tall Hyuuga leaning on the wall.

He smirked, "Is that so?"

She tilted her head, the boy was being a bit awkward… he was speaking to her, "Ano, hai?"

He shifted himself off the wall and looked briefly at the girl who was still smiling, "Go and rest."

She nodded and bowed once again, leaving her ears to listen to the soft padding of her master's retrieving form.

--

He sighed deeply as he placed himself on his cousin's floor, his back sliding down the wall behind him.

"Neji-nii-san? What's wrong?" The Hyuuga heiress asked in concern.

"Your father is being himself as usual."

Midnight hair was tied up in a ponytail, her usual bangs obstructing a bit of her view so she blew some of the strands away while chuckling slightly,

"What is it this time?"

"I have to seal her Hinata-sama… on her back"

She gasped lightly, quickly looking at what seemed to be her indifferent cousin, "Oh my…"

He frowned at himself then stood up, disgusted with the fact that he had actually sounded like he needed help.

"Not that I can do anything about it."

She wanted to call his name, wanted to tell him something that would make him feel better, but he had left so suddenly, giving her the privilege of only watching him do so.

Her cousin was acting very strange…

--

The next morning, she had left with a small 'take care' towards her 'master', anticipating what her teacher had install for her that day.

She was going to take taijustu for awhile, and even though she did not understand why, she accepted and even more… was excited.

"Where is she? It's not her to be late…"

"Sensei, have patience" He shifted his sunglasses to be placed firmly on the bridge of his nose.

"Please Shino… not all of us are in love with the little princess." She retorted sarcastically, still looking around the forest surrounding them.

"Sisterly love."

"Ah yes."

The shortest out of them smiled and waited for whoever her teacher was waiting for. She already knew it was going to be a girl and that made her relax. She had always been a bit uncomfortable around males.

A few minutes later, the woman's voice rang loudly throughout the thick forest, "Hinata! You should have been here minutes ago!"

The Hyuuga princess cowered slightly, an innocent smile decorating her small face, "Ah, Gomen Kurenai-sensei… I was… well-"

"Ah, Never mind… at least you're here."

Hinata sighed in relief then turned to both Shino and May, "Ohio."

The stoic Aburame merely nodded while May smiled and replied the greeting.

"Good, we all know each other here." She turned to face the gray eyed girl, "Hinata will be your taijutsu partner. I was going to hire someone else, but seeing as to you are from Hyuuga, I figured that the best taijutsu to teach you would be the Hyuuga style, are you okay with that?"

Her black hair that was pulled up in a high braid moved with a nod, "Hai"

The teacher smiled and continued, "Now, I will not be able to assist you while Hinata teaches you, so if you want to learn Genjutsu fast, I suggest you do this with your very best."

"Wakarimashta" (1)

"Good, now to begin with, Hinata will have to see what you're made of, so you will have a half an hour spar with her, using none of your ninjutsu nor genjutsu techniques. She will test your physical strength so get ready."

She moved her glasses so that they may not fall during the fight, she then glanced at the girl she was about to spar with and blinked with astonishment. Hinata was already in her fighting stance and very ready to strike.

"Your all May-san, Hinata will not hesitate… I warn you."

"Hai."

And with that, the two girls ran towards each other, eyes full with enthusiasm.

--

Her back was bent as she tried to take deep breaths, sweat dripping from her forehead.

It had been a tiring fight, one that had ended with her loss.

"See May-san? You could not even touch Hinata." The black haired teacher stated out.

She lifted her head up, "Demo sensei, I don't know taijutsu and I-"

Hinata fidgeted quietly with her fingers as Shino rested calmly under tree nearby.

The red eyed teacher shook her head, "I won't hear of it. All I am saying is that, if you were on the battlefield and under some circumstance you had to use taijutsu, you would be… dead."

"Circumstance?" She asked while trying to straighten up.

"You will learn of them when they come to you."

The girl coughed lightly as she nodded her head, "Hai"

Kurenai smiled kindly at both girls then turned to Shino, "Come one, Tsunade-sama wishes to see us," She then looked back at both Hyuuga girls, "… I will see you two tomorrow… and Hinata? Don't be late."

Hinata smiled nervously, waiting for both her past teacher and team mate to disappear from view.

She then slowly walked towards the shorter girl, "Umm, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

The grey eyed girl shook her head and smiled, "It's okay."

"Shall we head back home?"

May nodded and wiped a few more droplets of sweat from her forehead, "Hai"

--

He stood silently on the porch, his breathing still a bit faster than usual after his typical morning training.

It had been bad. His Byakugan had failed to see seventy dropping leaves out of seventy-one, and one kunai had missed the center of that red spot by a millimeter.

Something was keeping his mind unfocused and he did not like it…

His eyes snapped open with the sound of two voices, his blank eyes welcomed with the sight of both his cousin and 'property' laughing together on their way towards him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, he didn't know the shorter girl was even capable of smiling without having to look away. He had thought her to be too scared. And truthfully, he couldn't blame half of her.

Hyuuga was a frightening clan when it came down to it.

He closed his eyes once again after he witnessed his cousin wave at him and then say something inaudible to the gray eyed girl before she entered the Main house.

After a few seconds he heard the sound of deep breathing so his eyes opened again slowly to see May standing in front of him while bowing respectfully.

"Hello Neji-sama."

"Hn, tired from training?" He asked, not knowing why he had even acknowledged her greeting.

She smiled and tried to suppress in a happy chuckle, "Neji-sama, your cousin is very strong." And with that, she left with another small bow and a 'kyotskete'.

His eyes closed by themselves as he tried to ignore the sound of her leaving footsteps.

His brows frowned; her smile was annoying, just like Hinata's had been when he had hated her. But hers was slightly different.

And he didn't know how.

Unintentionally, his hand was brought up to where his seal resided.

He was going to have to do it to her, whether he liked it or not…

Not that he cared though… it was just… well; it wasn't going to be on the forehead… It was going to have to be placed on her back…

And that would hurt like going to Hell and coming back, the same routine being repeated around 3 times.

He took a breath and headed towards the Hyuuga training grounds.

His uncle wouldn't mind if he delayed it until tomorrow would he?

(A/N): I wanted Neji to already place the seal on May's back but I decided that before any major dramatic scenes happen, why not let him get at least a bit closer to the girl?

He'll do it in the next chapter though… no worries.

Well? How's it going? Do any of you mind if the slight romance starts now? Because I really have no idea if I'm taking things too slow or too fast so it's up to the reviews .

(1) Understood

Reviews are appreciated.

Kyotskete