Title: Never Alone

Author: Tara-Kitaide

Genre: Humor/Romance/Adventure

Rating: T...for cursing and violence and stuff like that... that and Yuri fluff.

Pairing: Sakura/Hinata with a little Naruto/Gaara

Spoilers: Uh...Watch Shippuuden...or...well...you don't have to really...

Summary: After the two and a half year time skip, Hinata finally decides to reveal her feelings to Naruto. When she discovers hes all ready taken, she seeks comfort in the most unlikely place.

Warnings: Starts off slow. Violence and stuff. Also, shojo-ai and Shonen-ai.

Disclaimer: No matter how much I wished, I do not own Naruto.

Dedication: To my math teacher for teaching me that X2-3x+9 divided by 9 eighths to the second power x pie 3x, because lord knows I use that information every day!

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Chapter 1

Discovery

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Hinata ran through the crowded streets of Konoha, kicking up mud and dirt due to the newly fallen rain. She refused to believe what she had heard. What she had seen. Her heart throbbed in her chest so she gripped it quickly in a useless attempt to stop the pain. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she swiped at them with her free hand. Despite the cold, rainy session, it was valentines day. Another reason to dread this particular afternoon, Hinata thought.

Gaara had come to Konoha to meet with the current Hokage, Tsunade, and reestablish trade between the two neighboring country's. He had come and done his duty but insisted on staying. Many people questioned him as to why but he never gave a straight answer. Eventually the subject was dropped and nobody cared but still a few wondered. Hinata had wondered and now she knew...

Only a few moments ago:

Hinata jumped across the tiled Konoha roofs, her carefully wrapped heart shaped package in her arms. A smile spread wide across her face as her long raven black hair fanned out behind her. It was valentines day. The day she was going to finally tell Naruto. Tell him about how she felt. Tell him that she loved him.

The thought filled her heart with warmth. There wasn't a single doubt in her mind. She'd give Naruto the gift, tell him, and hopefully he'd feel the same way. If he didn't, then that was fine. He'd wait for him. She'd waited so long already, a little more time wouldn't make a difference. Sometimes waiting was more affective than pushing forcefully and besides, she loved him enough to be able to live on the smallest of moments.

She smiled as she landed on the window seal out side of Naruto's apartment. She listened for a movement and heard the door close. Perfect! He had just gotten back! She peaked as best she could through the blinds and tried to eye Naruto. Instead, a bright red mop of hair came into view as the owner sat on Naruto's bed. Naruto himself was taking off his jacket and hanging it up next to the door.

"Phew! I thought we'd never get out of there! Eh, Gaara?"

Hinata's eyes widened a little as she heard Naruto speak.

Gaara? Why is he here...?

She saw Gaara nod and answer.

"Yes. There were quite a few people. Of course, that is to be expected, considering its valentines day."

Naruto smiled and plopped down next to Gaara on the bed, wrapping an arm around the kazekage's shoulders as Gaara leaned in and rested against Naruto. Naruto sighed and nuzzled the red hair while he stroked it.

"Thats right. I nearly forgot. Sorry I couldn't get you anything. I'm such a bad boyfriend."

Hinata felt her heart almost leap out of her chest.

Boyfriend?! N-Naruto-kun... and Gaara-kun... No! They can't be!

Gaara smiled and sighed. "You're present enough."

Naruto chuckled and kissed his head softly. "Its strange hearing stuff like that from you."

"What? It's strange to tell you I love you?" Gaara wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist and kissed his neck.

Hinata froze. She felt like her heart had just been ripped out of her chest. It was one thing that Naruto didn't love her, she could handle that. But for him to love someone else, and Gaara of all people? Hinata's throat tightened and her chest felt compressed. She put her hand to her chest in attempt to suppress the pain but it was no use.

Then, what she say next nearly broke her completely.

Naruto touched Gaara's face gently and lifted his face to his. They gazed at each other for moments on end before moving the few centimeters between them and kissed.

Hinata couldn't take it. The look of complete happiness that shone on Naruto's face when he kissed Gaara, the way he held him, stroked his hair, loved him... She only wished it was her instead. Part of her was happy for Naruto but that part was very small and afraid to show it's self for risk of being devoured by her ugly side. Hinata took in a shaky breath and let it out slowly. Then, with tears running down her pale face, she turned and ran.

-/-/-/-

Hinata even now continued to run. She pushed on despited the aching in her legs that told her to stop. She didn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it.

I'm dreaming. This is just a really bad dream. I'll wake up soon and it will be valentines day, then I'll go to Naruto-kun and see for myself. None of this is real! It's not real!

While emerged in her thoughts, Hinata forgot to watch herself and tripped, In attempt to steady herself, she blindly reached out and grabbed the nearest object, in this case a person. With two shouts, one from Hinata and one from the other person, they descending party both fell into a puddle of fresh mud.

Hinata lay there a moment, letting her new physical pain linger with the emotional before pulling herself up and apologizing to whomever she dragged down.

"I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going and...!"

Hinata's voice trailed off as her muddy companion stood. The girl brushed the mud off her pink skirt and grumbled.

"D-Don't worry about it. I should have watched myself."

Sakura smiled and extended a mud covered hand to the still immobile Hinata. Hinata gazed back a moment before mouthing Sakura's name and taking her hand, hoisting herself up.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura-chan. I didn't know it was you."

Sakura blinked at the lifelessness in Hinata's voice. She glanced up and down the girl's figure before fixing on her face and gasping slightly. Her eyes widened a little as worry overcame her.

"Hinata... you've been... crying...?"

Hinata put a hand to her face and her features widened slightly. She had never stopped crying. Even now, the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Her eyes narrowed and a wave of pain over came her again.

"Sakura... Chan... I..." Her sentence was cut off by a round of sobs and hics.

"W-Wah? H-Hinata, what is it?! What's wrong?!"

Sakura rushed to Hinata's side and shooed away the growing crowd of on lookers. Hinata cried as Sakura wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. "Hinata, what's wrong. You can trust me, you know that."

Hinata nodded feebly and gripped Sakura's shoulder, steadying herself.

"I-I know that..." Hinata managed through sobs. "J-Ju-Just not here... Some place... Some place private..."

Sakura nodded and helped Hinata walk.

"My place isn't too far. We can get cleaned up and talk there."

Hinata didn't respond. It was all she could do to watch where she placed her feet and smother her sobbing. The two carried on, avoiding on lookers and maneuvering through the crowded streets.

I wonder what happened? She seems so... broken. Last time we talked, she said she was going to see Naruto today. Did something happen or...

Sakura looked down and noticed the heart shaped box tucked under Hinata's arm. Some fancy scrawl was written across the top. Sakura squinted at the box for a moment before the name came into focus. She gasped a little but it wasn't enough to draw Hinata's attention. For that she was grateful.

The name on the box was "Naruto". It was for Naruto.

So she was going to see him but did she even get there?

Sakura looked down at Hinata's sorry form and sighed softly.

Guess I'll have to wait to find out.