A/N: This is the first out of four parts for a fic I'm doing as a request for Yamikinoko in the LJ community Naruto Flashfic. She wanted Gaara/Hinata, so here it is.

Please note that the fic does start on December 25, but as this is Naruto-world, it is not Christmas, and thus it's business as usual for the characters. December 25 just happens to be one week before the New Year, which I guess the characters could celebrate.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hinata, Gaara, any of the other characters mentioned here, or the Naruto world. I own this fic and its plot.

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Our Voice

December 25

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Like attracts like. Those with something in common will always find each other.

They will go through the world, groping in the darkness until their outstretched hands find another set of fingers. One will say, "Who are you?" and the other one will answer. When two give the same answer, they will entwine their fingers tightly, and they will hold onto each other as they move through the darkness, reaching out to find others like themselves. To anyone else that finds them in the darkness, they may as well be one person.

Like always attracts like.

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"I've called you all here for a special mission."

Hinata glanced nervously around the Hokage's office, keeping her head low and taking quick looks up at the people around her. She was the youngest person in the room.

She recognized three of the teachers: Asuma, Kakashi, and her own, Kurenai. She also knew Shino's father and Kiba's mother (who had brought her dog). There was Tsunade, Shizune, and another man she didn't know.

And then there was herself, standing against the wall and trying to go unnoticed.

The other adults stopped murmuring among themselves as Tsunade addressed them. Hinata wondered what was going on, and why she'd been called here with all these jounin. Maybe there was a mistake? She was afraid to ask.

Tsunade said, "As you all know, relations with Suna haven't been very pleasant lately."

Several of the older ninja chuckled. That was true enough.

Tsunade flipped through her papers, speaking as she did so. "You've probably all heard by now that the fourth Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru, right? He was recently replaced by one of his sons."

She pulled out one of the papers, and flipped it to face the group. It was a picture. Hinata gasped; she was the only one who did so.

"This is the fifth Kazekage. Gaara." She put the picture away, continuing to speak as she did so. "I know, we all recognize him from this summer. None of us have fond memories of him."

The group didn't speak, but Hinata could feel their unease. Or maybe it was her own.

"Even so, he's already sent an ambassador with a formal apology for what happened, and Suna demonstrated that they hope to repair relations with Konoha."

The man Hinata didn't know grunted, and said, "That's right. Shikamaru told me about how they helped on his mission to retrieve Sasuke." He must have been Shikamaru's father, Hinata thought.

"Kiba told me the same thing," Kiba's mother said, and her dog woofed in agreement.

"Then you see we're already moving towards our previous level of diplomacy," Tsunade said. "This mission is to speed up that process."

The group waited expectantly. Tsunade cleared her throat, and started. "This is a rather... unusual mission," she said. "It... shouldn't be dangerous, in any manner. Actually..." She groaned in frustration. "I can't believe I'm assigning a mission like this!" she complained. "This is ridiculous! Shizune?"

"What?" Shizune stared in bafflement as Tsunade sat heavily in her chair, glaring at her desk. Hinata shifted her stance slightly, raising her hands from her sides to twiddle her fingers together. What was going on?

"Oh. Right." Shizune stepped in front of the desk, gave Tsunade a brief, exasperated look, and spoke for her. "New Year's is in a week. The Kazekage has invited ambassadors from Konoha to come to Sunagakure for a celebration. We hope that if we can meet each other in times of peace, we'll be able to work better together at other times. The Hokage has chosen you seven as representatives from the most prestigious clans in Konoha – Inuzuka, Hyuuga, Yamanaka, Aburame, Yuhi, Hatake, and Sarutobi."

There was silence for a moment. "So what's the mission?" Kakashi finally asked.

"Er..." Shizune glanced at Tsunade, who offered no support. "It's a... party?" She smiled feebly. "I know, we've all got other missions to do, especially while we're trying to rebuild out village. And we'd all like to spend the holiday with our families. But strengthening our alliance with Suna is one of our top priorities."

While the others relaxed – how hard could attending a little party be? – Hinata tensed up. She had to go socialize? She could hardly speak to strangers, how could she make small talk?

Hinata shot her hand into the air before she gave herself time to think twice about it. Shizune glanced at her, surprised, and said, "Yes, Hinata-chan?"

"I-I..." A deep blush spread across her face. "I, um, I-I'm very grateful, of-of course... b-but..." She swallowed. Everyone was staring at her, or it felt like they were. "B-but... why... me?"

Tsunade glanced up long enough to answer. "Your father is on a mission and your sister's too young to go," she said. "We'd send Neji-kun, but it would reflect badly on us if we only sent a member of the branch family on a diplomatic mission."

"Oh, I s-see," Hinata mumbled, so quietly that probably no one heard her anyway. She stared down at her fingers. "Thank you..."

Shizune went on. "We're setting out for Sunagakure this afternoon," she said. "You have this morning to pack and go eat lunch. You'll all have to be back here by one in the afternoon. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am," the seven ninja said together.

"Good," Shizune said. "You're dismissed."

Hinata drifted out with the other adults, lost in her thoughts. This was going to be a complete, utter disaster, the worst mission she'd ever been on. How was Hinata going to survive a party?

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"You did what?" Gaara snarled, curling his hands into fists.

Temari didn't flinch, but then again she had Kankurou next to her and six jounin behind her. Perhaps Gaara had promised to be a civil human henceforth, but no one was taking any chances. "You need to get to know the neighboring villages better, especially Konoha," Temari said. "Besides, as Kazekage you can't expect to get by without ever meeting ambassadors from other lands. Sooner or later you're going to have to learn to deal with social situations like this, and better start with a relatively low-stress one. Right?"

Gaara didn't move, aiming a glare at Temari that she met, fearful but not looking away. Low-stress to some, maybe, but Gaara was used to the pressure of a battle, working while under attack and, since becoming Kazekage, shouting out orders to those who needed them. Idle chitchat with the scornful eyes of strangers upon him didn't strike him as low-stress in the least.

He sighed and sat down at his desk, never unlocking his eyes from Temari's. He would concede defeat but he wouldn't do it gracefully. "When are they supposed to get here?" he asked.

"Three days from now," Temari said. "I'll handle the arrangements for the actual party and for the guests' quarters. All you'll have to do is be the welcoming host."

Gaara groaned and didn't bother to conceal it. He'd rather switch jobs with Temari.

She tightened her lips, but didn't comment. "I'll report to you periodically," she said. Her voice trembled slightly; so she was still scared of Gaara. He didn't know whether he was pleased or disappointed.

Temari turned and left the room, and the six jounin followed her. Kankurou slipped away from the group, hanging back until he was the only one left in Gaara's office. He looked nervous.

"Yes?" Gaara said, knowing full well that it probably wouldn't really help Kankurou speak up.

Kankurou cleared his throat. "To be honest," he said, "I'm kinda the same way as you about parties and stuff like that. I'm planning on sneaking out after the first half hour and heading to the restaurant down the street from the playground Yashamaru used to take us to. You know the place?"

Gaara didn't have an eyebrow to arch, but the idea was there. Kankurou was talking about the restaurant with the posters of girls covering the windows, little red bars of paint just barely covering the necessary places. "Are we allowed in there?" he asked.

"Who's going to stop us?" Kankurou said, almost smiling, but stopping and glancing away from Gaara. "I'm just saying, if it gets too unbearable at the party, I'll be over there and I'd be glad to have you."

Gaara was pretty sure the second part of the sentence was a lie, but he was touched that his brother was even trying to help him. "I'll... Thank you, Kankurou. I'll think about it."

Kankurou nodded, gruffly said, "No problem," and hurried out of the room.

Unfortunately, Kankurou's restaurant would be little better than the actual party. Too much activity that Gaara was supposed to be excited about but knew he wouldn't be. He sighed, stood, and glared out the window behind his desk at Sunagakure. How necessary was a New Year's party to ensure the protection of the people in his village? He wondered if it was too late to go to Temari and refuse, and how much force would be needed to back up that refusal. He couldn't risk estranging the ninja of Suna again, and any sign of ill will towards his own would undoubtedly just bring back everyone's fears.

How was Gaara going to make it to the New Year with his sanity intact?

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