Sometime Like Forever
Chapter One: Sandwich
The tea kettle shrieked as steam began to spew into the fresh air of the Hyuuga Mansion. Hinata hummed a somewhat cheerful tune as she gracefully traveled over to the stove, and began whistling as she turned the dial for the fire off. Making sure that the handle was cool enough; she lifted the teapot and poured three cups of tea.
Gaara—no, the Kazekage was visiting Neji-niisan today to discuss some sort of business with clan alliances or what not.
After her father had been killed in the latest Shinobi War, Hinata had declined the succession of the Hyuuga clan and pushed Neji onto the spot of the head. He was delighted of course, but she was worried for him—for she knew, first hand, exactly how much the clan required, and how much pressure the head had on his/her shoulders.
However, Hinata was in no position to fret over her cousin-turned-lord, due to the fact that he was a higher-ranked family member in the Hyuuga clan. But that didn't stop Neji from thinking of her of course. He was such a wonderful cousin.
Hinata stared at the trio of teacups that were on the tiny tray and frowned. It wasn't right. The three were in a straight horizontal line—making them look stiff and unnatural. She repositioned them into a small triangle and nodded, satisfied with herself. Picking the newly arranged tray of tea up, Hinata left the kitchen and ventured to the Hyuuga Lord's office.
Rapping slightly on the screen door with her knuckles, Hinata softly spoke.
"Neji-niisan, may I come in?" (She had lost her stutter years back.)
The Hyuuga Head hollered. "Come in Hinata!" The woman giggled to herself. Though her cousin was a very important clan leader, he was still a man in his early 20's…and he still acted like it. She pulled the door open and stepped inside with a bow.
Groaning, Neji hung his head. "Really Hinata? I told you not to be so polite!" The scolded Hyuuga smiled and apologized half-heartedly.
"Sorry, Neji-niisan." Hinata turned to the other male in the room and bowed to him as well. "Good day, Kazekage-san." The Suna inhabitant nodded his head, acknowledging the woman.
Hinata quite enjoyed being with the Kazekage, he made her feel protected, secure, maybe even a bit loved; if she knew any better. She did miss, however, the way that Gaara's eyes trailed after her every move though. And that was important.
Her kimono sleeves rustled in the light breeze coming from the open window of the office as she passed the teacups around. Neji sipped the jasmine tea and smiled with tranquility. Then, all of a sudden, he shot to his feet and ran out of the office—disturbing the serene atmosphere of the complex.
"Sorry!" He bellowed as he dashed away. "Forgot to tell Uchiha something! I'll be back soon, so you two chat or something!"
As Neji sprinted off, Gaara blinked while Hinata started to laugh openly. She slowly gathered herself, reminding her conscience that the 'Kazekage' was in her presence and that this 'unsightly' behavior was unbecoming of her. Gaara stared at Hinata with those piercing teal eyes of his and spoke. His mouth had moved ever so slightly, but his voice was projected loudly; the sound-waves were literally bouncing off the walls. It occurred to Hinata that Gaara was definitely a man, and a professional one at that.
"Hyuuga Woman." Grimacing, she corrected him.
"It is Hinata, Kazekage-san." His eyes never broke eye-contact with hers.
"I am aware." He replied. "But I was not sure if we are on familiar terms."
Biting back a laugh, Hinata realized that he was very old fashioned. Reaching over to touch his arm, she smiled and assured him that calling her by her first name was acceptable.
"Your thought, Kazekage-san?" Gaara, with those unmoving eyes of his, spoke again—this time a longer sentence.
"If I call you Hinata, you must be able to call me Gaara, am I right?" Blushing, Hinata's eyes severed the bond between his as they darted to the ground in embarrassment. She agreed quickly, hoping to get past the awkwardness of the situation.
"Your thought, Gaara-kun?" She questioned him. And judging from the nod, it seemed that calling him 'kun' was all right.
"I want a sandwich." This time, Hinata could not swallow her laughter and loudly started to chuckle at the Kazekage. He looked confused, and maybe even a little cute, as she laughed and laughed at his childish-like nature. This man was such a mystery. One moment, he made her blush and the next, giggle.
"Do you Gaara-kun?" Rising from her seat, Hinata decided to make him a sandwich. "Well, what the Kazekage wants, the Kazekage shall get." She bowed and dismissed herself from the room. As she left, Gaara echoed the melodious sound of her laughter through his head.
How he loved it.
Hinata arrived in the Hyuuga kitchen shortly after she left the Lord's office. She rolled up her pretty kimono sleeves and began to work, hastily gathering the ingredients for a classic western-style sandwich. The bread was laid out first, and then she started to pile the lettuce, tomatoes, and ham onto the bottom piece, topping the meal off with a slice of exclusive cheddar cheese that was imported from the other countries and another slice of bread. Transferring the basic sandwich onto a china plate, Hinata rushed back to the Lord's office, anxious for Gaara to try the meal.
She burst into the office, giddy with excitement, and presented the sandwich to the Kazekage.
"Here Gaara-kun!" He looked at the rations and blinked. Glancing up at the beaming face of Hinata, he asked.
"Is it good?" Looking scandalized, she faked a heart attack.
"'Is it good?' he asks." Hinata fixed him with a stare of disbelief. "Of course it's good, Gaara-kun!" Watching the Hyuuga's face, he mumbled an order.
"You eat it first." She ogled the Kazekage in incredulity. Gulping, she obliged.
Hinata chewed the sandwich, cocking her head to try and explain its taste.
"It's a bit bland, you might say—and—" Gaara wasn't listening anymore; he was too distracted by the stray piece of bread on the corner of Hinata's mouth. Leaning forward, the Kazekage licked off the breadcrumb with his tongue and smacked his lips together.
It was undeniably the most delicious sandwich he had ever tasted.
Neji was tired, hungry, and pissed off after his argument with the Uchiha, so when he came home to a Kazekage kissing his adored younger cousin…well…
He kind of lost it.