*Names of every holy person you know of + Satan* Why the hell did it take so long?! Gigantic words of apologies for the stupid long break I just had. Maybe you expect chapters with over 11k words each? And maybe with very deep Gaara-centric characterization so that you readers understand why he did what he did? I will sadly apologise again. This chapter has simply 952 words of the story itself. No more, no less.
At the end of summer break, I had a summer job. After the vacation I began in a new school, with new teachers, longer days, new rules and had to learn a bit hi-tech thingie regarding homework I hadn't done before. I got a writer's block. I then knew what to write, but never got the energy to write it. I just didn't feel it. I'm actually just happy I managed to write 3 of 5 chapters. Hopefully the last two will come easier than three first.
I now have a week's vacation, and my goal is to write this fic finished. For good.
BTW; The manga is coming to an end!
I have no words other than; Enjoy!
A Kazekage's job is hard. I knew this but still became surprised when I became one myself.
It seemed like I had forgotten the many hours my father would sit at the office I am now being in, signing his name on paper after paper and then sign it again when a new stack of responsibility came together with a steaming hot coffee and a short message telling him about his upcoming meeting.
You have no idea how many times I had been seen on my knees outside his door, peeping through the keyhole while trying to understand how much he hated me, how much he wanted me to die on the spot with no other explanation than I have been a sin but not anymore.
I have no doubt my father knew I was there, looking at him, but he ignored me, and still did the first time his secretary had discovered me and shown me inside, with the thought of how happy my father would become.
He never, ever looked at me, and his secretary never did it again.
I am still surprised how much I tried to understand the man giving me life, how much I tried seeing it through his eyes and see what he saw when he looked at me. It still surprised me how much I wanted him to acknowledge me, but I was never shocked of the pain I felt when he didn't.
'Was I really that desperate?' I think, glancing up from the current paper and sparing a small glance out the window, not seeing anything other than black and the few light sources still on. 'Night already, huh?' I note, not really surprised by the time and how long I have been working.
A small sigh slips out, and I continue reading the paper, writing my name afterwards and laying it on a stack working as "finished".
I grab another paper and the circle continues until a knock, followed by a door opening and Temari's head popping up to my vision.
"Hinata Hyuuga from Konoha is here to deliver a message from Lady Tsunade, the Hokage."
Before I am able to decline a dark-haired, young woman gets pushed inside, the door closing behind her quickly.
I meet soft, lavender eyes for a quick moment before she looks down, and while still looking down she steps slowly forwards till she is on the other side of the desk, thrusting a hand holding a scroll shakily in my direction.
I look at her for a moment before grabbing it, opening it and reading it.
Get. Me. Beer. NOW.
I scoff, not really surprised by her message.
"H-Hokage-sama said it w-was highly im-important," says a voice so sweet I barely hear it.
I shake my head, meeting her gaze when I ask her, "Do you know what it says?"
Now it was her time to shake her head, "s-she told us it w-was c-confidential."
I lay the scroll down without a word and send it her way, to be honest not really surprised by her leader's antics.
She hesitates, meeting my gaze and seeing my small nod, then grabs the scroll and reads it.
"It seems your Hokage likes alcohol," I say, reading her silent question, "and her assistant — Shizune I believe she is called— uses to take it away from her, not allowing her anything. After a meeting here she tasted one of Suna's beverages and has been a fan of it ever since. She sometimes requests some being sent to her without her assistant knowing it, though I'm surprised she sent a team to give it to me."
"S-she'd probably sent s-some m-messages before t-that d-didn't reach you… that's why s-she sent us…" she says and practically falls down on the chair behind her, her legs no longer able to hold her up.
"Not to sound rude to your Hokage, but that sounds pretty much like her." I say, nearly dryly, watching her when she suddenly exclaims, "S-she even said it w-was S-rank!" before she blushes and promptly shuts up.
I am amused, though she can't see it, and some time went before I ask her, "When do you have to go back?
"W-when you h-have c-composed a message b-back." she gasps back, startled.
I nodd to myself, turning to a drawer, fishing up a paper and a pen and starts to write, then I stop, watching her closely before I state, "You are tired."
She doesn't reply, but her embarrassment clearly tells me she is, "You are staying here till I have composed a message for you to send back, right?"
She nods, and even if I can't see her face I know she is curious. I am too, actually. I have no idea where I am going, and became surprised when I say, "That would take…let me say, two weeks? Yes, that sounds about right. Enjoy your stay, Hyuuga."
She is on her feet in seconds, gasping "W-w-what!?" and looking at me like I am crazy. I don't look back, faking being busy with paperwork while I question myself why I had said it. In the end, I look up at her and repeats, "Enjoy your stay, Hinata."
She shuts her mouth shut, blushed prettily and says a quick "T-thank you!" before she hurriedly leaves the room.
I watch the closed-door for what felt like days afterwards, her voice repeating itself over and over, so low and sweet and cute…
I blink, dismissing my thoughts immediately, and look down at the paper in my hands, seeing the words but not processing them while I question myself why my heart has started a quicker rhythm and won't seem to stop…
Was this worth the wait? I assume not.
If you're curious the story title is from the song; I Am Machine by Three Days Grace.
Link if you want to hear the song and/or lyrics:
watch?v=8Zx6RXGNISk
or
watch?v=NmIBSeFhnfc
This will most likely be the title of the fic. Though I had another song in mind, which I sadly can't find at the moment.
I will hopefully have the second chapter up as soon as possible. Until then; Bye!