Desert Snow

LightBender: I finally finished the chapter! It took me several times to figure out what I wanted to say!

Duzell: If you had spent less time bugging me, maybe you could have gotten work done.

Marcella: What?! You'll bug him, not me? I'm so unloved!!!!!

LightBender: ((rolls eyes)) See what I have to deal with?

Marcella: ((puzzled)) What?

LightBender: ((hits head))

Duzell: ((laughs manically))

LightBender: Who wants to do the disclaimer for the first time in DS?

Marcella: I do—

Lee: The youthful LightBender owns nothing except for the youthful plot!

Marcella: ((sulking)) It was my turn!

LightBender: Say the R&R thing then!

Marcella: You just did.

LightBender: ((shakes head)) R&R please!

Temari and Kankuro moved quietly around their younger brother during the whole trip back to Suna and once they were back home. They had left the day after the ball; the date had been set up before they had left Suna. They couldn't change that. Kankuro and Temari were regretting it so much.

Everyone had seen the Gaara and Hinata reenter the building that night. They were soaking wet, but there had been more questions about why they were holding hands. It hadn't taken to long for the rumors to get out.

'"Have you heard? The Kazekage is dating the Hyuga heiress!"'

The sand siblings left too soon and didn't hear all the new rumors. Somehow, all of Konoha heard that she had stayed overnight with the sand siblings. The latest rumor was that Hinata was pregnant. And that was the kindest one. She had been told that she was a slut and she had been sleeping with Gaara and Kankuro.

Hinata really didn't care. She defended herself the first time, but she didn't really care. She knew what was going on between her and Gaara and that was enough for them. Hinata also wasn't aware, but she had friends who were defending her. Some very well; others, not so well.

"That Hyuga girl is such a little slut!" a storekeeper said.

"You must not say such things about the youthful Hina-chan!" Lee shouted. "She is youthfully enjoying youthful love with youthful Gaa-kun! Do not say such unyouthful things about my youthful friends!"

In the middle of a meeting in Suna, Gaara sneezed.

Well, most of her friends defended her better than that.

Different store owners/random people off the street.

"Don't talk about my cousin like that!" Neji shouted and kaiten-ed the owner.

"Ugh…it's too troublesome to explain, but don't talk about her," Shikamaru said lazily.

"Sic him, Akamaru!"

Tenten took out her weapons and everyone in the immediate area shut up.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan.

Choji stomped his foot, causing a minor earthquake.

Shino started a few locust attacks.

Sakura blasted the ground apart.

Naruto shouted something about Hokage as he Rasengan-ed the place.

Ino punched random people.

The Jonin teachers became the worst nightmare of the people of Konoha, especially Kurenai.

-

"Yes, Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked.

"You probably are aware of the increased number of attacks on citizens because of the rumors about you, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, I think it would be in all our best interests if you went on a long mission, at least until this all calms down. I've already discussed this with your father and he says it's all right."

"What would the mission be?"

"Here." Tsunade handed a paper.

Hinata's eyes traveled down the paper. Her expression changed from one of uncertainty to one of happiness. She looked up at Tsunade. "Are you serious?"

Tsunade smiled. "Yes."

Hinata bowed, saying, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. You're leaving tomorrow at the Western Gate. The time should be on the paper."

"It is." Hinata pointed at it.

"Good. Good luck…and have fun!"

-

Gaara had taken to locking himself up in his study. No one knew what he did in there, because papers certainly weren't getting done. Gaara was actually just sitting, staring out the window. Not thinking. Not really even seeing what was going on.

He didn't tell anyone how he felt. He didn't know that how he felt was how Temari felt after leaving Konoha. He didn't know that she had found ways to deal with it.

Instead, he locked himself up. He was used to be alone. He had always been alone it seemed. Even when he had 'friends'.

But, this was different. He actually had learned what it was like to not be alone. Learned what it was like to love someone. And to have that love returned. He always wanted to fell like that. He didn't want to feel how he had felt for so long.

After a week, all this changed.

-

Gaara was staring blindly out the window when his office door opened. There were soft footsteps as someone came closer. He still didn't turn around. He thought it either Temari or a secretary.

"Hello, Gaara-sama," said a familiar, timid voice.

Gaara stood up and turned around. There she was. He put an arm around her waist and his other hand behind her head. Leaning her back, they kissed.

Hinata laughed when they broke apart. "Maybe I should leave more often…"

"You had better not," Gaara said gruffly. "I might be forced to kidnap you."

"It wouldn't look very good, seeing as you're Kazekage."

"My dear, I don't give a damn," Gaara said.

Hinata laughed again. "Temari-chan been showing you some old movies?"

"Maybe…"

They kissed again….

There was a knock at the door. Hinata and Gaara both jumped. Hurriedly, they disentangled themselves and threw their shirts back on. Hinata sat down on the desk, blushing crimson as Gaara walked to the door.

"Gaara, if you don't open this door, I'm going to break it down!" Temari's voice came from the other side, muffled slightly.

Gaara opened the door and said, "What?"

Temari shook her head and said, "I heard Hinata was here. Is she?"

"Yes," Hinata and Gaara said simultaneously.

"I just wanted to say hi. Also, you're going to be my Maid of Honor, all right?"

"Sure, thank you!" Hinata said. Gaara gave Temari a confused look.

"Wedding plans, Gaara," Temari said patiently. "That's why Hinata, Shikamaru, and his mother are here. We're planning the wedding."

There was a loud yell that sounded like Yoshino. Kankuro came running by, screaming, "Temari! She's worse than you!"

Temari laughed evilly as she left. Gaara closed the door and sat next to Hinata on the desk. Hinata's head was down and her breathing sounded shaky.

"What's wrong?" Gaara asked.

"Nothing. Is Temari gone?"

"Yes."

Hinata started laughing. Gaara looked puzzled, but laughed also. Finally, Hinata got control of herself enough to say, "You have a very interesting family!"

LightBender: You know what I noticed?

Gaara: What?

LightBender: It's always just you and me talking down here. Except for when Hinata joins us. We should get someone else down here.

Gaara: No—

Lee: ((running by)) YOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gaara: Anybody but him.

LightBender: Hm………….