Author: Silver Star Dragon

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Pairings: Gaara/Hinata (slightly)

Ratings: PG-13

Ages: This is after the Timeskip. Hinata is 18 years old now.

Hugs and Feelings

To Hinata Hyuga he was many things. He was a fellow ninja, a rival, and a leader. He was the kazerkage of the Village Hidden in the Sand. He was also one of the most lonesome people she had ever met.

Gaara didn't get her pity though. She would never pity him. Nevertheless, she wondered if anyone had thought to hold him or even give him a hug. It wasn't until she overheard a conversation in a cafe one evening that she really thought about it.

"It must be rough to be so alone," a Jounin said to her companion.

"But the Kazekage has siblings and helpers. How can he be alone?" Her companion asked.

"Don't you understand Keiko? To be a leader is to be alone."

"I think you're wrong, Mai. I mean the Hokage-"

"Keiko, the Hokage to be honest is a drunk that is afraid of blood. Even though Naruto got her to get over a great deal of it. She is still... alone." Hinata agreed with Mai. Unfortunately.

Later that night, Hinata was able to get out of the Compound without anyone seeing her leave. A feat in itself. She decided that she would head out to the training ground and train some. It wouldn't hurt.

Jumping rooftop to rooftop she was in her own little world when she noticed a strong chakra just off to her right. She didn't need Byakugan to know who it was. He was someone that she wanted to talk to.

"K-ka-kazeka-ge-sama?" Hinata hated that she stuttered whie she was nervous. She must look like a fool to him.

"What do you want?" He snarled at her.

So much for being nice to him. He was the one sitting on a roof looking down into the Konoha graveyard.

"Just wa-wanted to know i-if you we-ere doing ok." Hinata replied politely. Gaara turned towards her.

"Yes." Well good. Makes things sound nicer. Still Hinata felt as if something was wrong. Something was different.

"To be a leader is to be alone." Hinata whispered to herself.

"What was that?" Gaara snapped. He seemed to loom over her now. She looked up at him, into his sea foam green eyes with her own white and knew now what the jounin Mai was talking about. With that in mind, she acted on instinct.

She hugged him.

"I'm sorry that you are alone," she whispered to him and then, as if made of nothing, she vanished.

Back at the Hyuga Compound, Hinata could hear her father yelling at someone and they were yelling back. Neji and Hanabi were sparing and Hinata decided not to interrupt them.

As she stared out at the full moon, she sighed.

"Now I know what its like to be alone."

The idea of a leader being alone comes from Lord of the Rings I admit, but, I was also thinking that must leaders have to make choices that leave them alone.