Summary: Gaara learns the concept of a blush, a touch and how to kiss and Hinata learns the concept of bravery, self-worth, and not to stammer—especially around Gaara. They don't only learn the concept of love, life, and friendship, but how to love one another.

Grasping Love: The Concept

Prologue: Concept Planning

Hinata

I packed up my stuff ready for my mission. My first solo mission as a Jounin, I worked to get where I am and Neji's proud, my father's proud, my sister's proud and I'm proud of what I've accomplished—especially since nobody expected it.

I stood at the gates of Konoha for my traveling partner.

"Are you ready?" the voice surprised. He sat outside the village walls, sitting at the edge of a tree, arms folded behind his head, eyes closed, breathing evenly—I could tell because his chest was moving up and down.

I hadn't noticed his presence. I only stared stupidly at him. One eye opened and looked at me, "Hinata?"

"Yea, I'm ready," I said coming out of a daze. I shook my head and wiped my eyes.

He eyes continued to stare at me as a small smile lingered on his face. He shook his head, and sighed sadly, "This is so troublesome,"

"But you go to sand all the time,"

"I know that's why it's such a drag," he stared up at the clouds floating by.

I understood why it was enjoyable, it was soothing, peaceful; it was something simply that can be done to get away from…life or as Shikamaru puts it troublesome situations.

"What about Temari?"

The smallest hint of red tinted his cheeks, a small smirk rose of his face.

"What about her?" he said nonchalantly, and I would have believed him if I didn't know him and Temari. They've never admitted their liking or secret relationship, but everybody knew.

Now my face had a smile on it.

"So…you don't like her?"

"Let's go, Hinata, you're just as troublesome as she is."

"We have a whole three days together Shikamaru do you think I won't pry it out of you."

"How about this, I spill my love life if you spill yours, deal?"

I only nodded, this would be easy. I had no love life, ever since Naruto and Sakura got together. Slowly and painfully, I've been getting over it—him. I'm almost there; I can be in a room with him and not feel the butterflies start to flutter, my heart to start pounding, my hands to start sweaty, and my throat becoming dry. It's just an aching heart when I'm around him.

"I have no love life, Naruto and Sakura are together now…a-and—"

"I know, but you need somebody who can treat you like the queen you are. I know you'll find him, Hinata, you're too awesome not to, but you have to open yourself to him, too."

"I-I-I d-don't know i-if I'm r-ready," I said looking down at the ground, jumping from tree to tree. The silence intensified as the wind blew sending a chill down my spine.

BAM!

And all the other sound effects that come when you fall from about three stories high hitting tree branch after tree branch until you reach the ground.

I screamed in agony as the pain surged through my back to every inch of my body.

"Hinata!" Shikamaru called out to me, falling to the ground clumsily. I smiled inwardly and the irony. No matter what rank you are pain is all the same.

He grabbed my back and supported me as I slowly rose on my butt. I exhaled.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry," I said shamefully, bowing my head.

"Hinata, you just fell, you're in pain, why are you apologizing?"

I didn't know it was just a force of habit, "For being a burden, I guess,"

"you're never a burden, Hinata," he sighed staring up at the clouds, "troublesome maybe, but never a burden." He smiled staring me in the eyes.

"Can you heal yourself?"

I nodded at him, "I think so," I lifted my hand and forced my chakra to it. My body was sour with a few scrapes and bruises, and my forehead was bleeding, but other than that I was fine…physically.

Naruto

"I heard Hinata and Shikamaru just went on a mission together to Suna is that true?"

I stared out through the window of the Hokage tower.

"Yes, it's true," I answered not reverting away from the sky.

"What is their mission?" I already knew what she was trying to get at. She and I both knew that I had an ulterior motive for sending Hinata to the Sand Village.

"There missions are separate. Shikamaru going for his normal run, you know? Hinata, she's going for medical ninja training and to teach what she knows to the genin."

"But why is Hinata going? Suna has very capable medical ninjas,"

I was waiting for her prying, it made her Sakura I just hoped she'd agreed with my decision."

"Pointing a twist on things keeping them on their toes." I said playfully rocking back and forth on my toes. Her eyes showed her disapprove-ment.

"Fine," I said feeling defeated, I turned towards her, "It's my fault, Hinata, doesn't have anyone…special in her life. I wasn't good enough for her. She deserved to be loved a way I couldn't provide for her, but I know Gaara can."

"Gaara?"

"Yes, at least if they don't 'get together' they'll learn from each other. Hinata and Gaara both deserve that chance…that person. Just think what they could do for each, what they'd look like together…And it will make the alliance between the two villages stronger."

"You make it sound like it's in jeopardy or something," a small smile on her face, "Maybe you're right,"

Her words surprised and I already could tell she knew too.

"Yes, surprising, but…I don't what if she's not ready to open up and what about Gaara…he doesn't look interested in anybody."

"Because they haven't met each other, yet, Hinata only knows Gaara as the monster from the Chuunin exams and since we both know who Hinata is she won't let that cloud her judgment when she meets him. Knowing both of them, it's just a matter of how soon they'll start opening up to each other, let alone their hearts." I smiled inwardly.

I really hoped this work; Hinata was too good to end up alone. Gaara was too aloof, lacking social skills to even know what it feels to love or be loved. I just hoped one sided love would develop. I could deep within myself that this was the right choice.

But it wasn't up to me…it was up to…

Gaara and Hinata

TBC

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1st Gaara and Hinata fic

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