Gaara makes his debut here ;) I'm sorry if this chapter is short!! Please vote on my poll later...
Spring in My Heart
Kazekage
Someone stepped in. I blinked; he looked...I'd seen him before. He had violet lines on his face and was carrying scrolls.
"Hello," he said quietly. "I was worried about you."
I knew it then. This guy - he was - the Kazekage, wasn't he? He certainly looked formidable enough. "Th-thank you for saving me!" I stuttered. "I'm - gratef - "
"You're making a mistake. I'm not the Kazekage."
I blinked, and fell back on the bed. "Who...did?"
"You'll see." He smiled. "He's busy right now, though, most likely." He shifted, frowning. "I'm Kankuro."
He opened the door, walking out. "I hope you feel better."
A few minutes later the door opened again. I recognized this man...he'd been the Chuunin examiner! ...He was called - "M-morino Ibiki!" I cried aloud. "D-don't tell me you're the Kazekage?"
He shook his head. His scars were still there, as vivid as always. "I am here to tell you your decision..." His voice rumbled on sternly. "It is very important. Whether you stay here...or to go back to Konoha. Whatever it is, we must ensue there is no war."
"A w-war?! But th-that's impossible!"
His lips twisted. "Get better."
And he was out. I shuddered, fatigued, and then went to sleep...
--
I woke up a few hours later. The sun was slowly setting, red against the pale sands. It was beautiful. If this were actually become my home...
--
I stared outside at the orange sunset. And then there was a presence..."N-neji!" I cried, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here...your father sent me here to protect you."
"I haven't seen you in...t-two years..." I'd been ten when I last saw him.
"I see you're still that weakling you always were."
"Th-that's not true...I'm not...I..."
"You're annoying."
"G-gomen..."
With that he just shook his head and entered the house...my house. I knew my father would just accept him, love him for being so strong, unlike me.
There was rebellion in my heart but I didn't know how to fight. I couldn't do anything.
--
There was a sound, and a youth stepped in.
"Don't tell me," I said. He had red hair and was wearing white, soft robes, "You're the Kazekage."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
I fell silent. "No, I suppose not. Y-you're too young..."
He scrutinized me, unsmiling.
I reflected. Who had saved me during that time...?
"Gaara!" It was Temari's voice. So that was what his name was. "I can't train with you today. Kankuro's busy too. Gomen!" Distantly I heard rushing footsteps, and then it waws quiet.
Gaara seemed to sigh. He was, apparently, very quiet.
He was so...alone. Looking...lonely. Solitude. Abandoned.
"I - I'll train with you!" I blurted out. "I - "
He trained his eyes on me. I blushed and looked down, averting his gaze.
"Now?" he spoke.
I blinked; his voice was so...hollow-sounding.
"Y-yeah. That's fine. Sure."
"Meet me in five minutes outside the hospital." And then he stepped out, leaving me wondering, wondering, wondering...
--
Frantically I dressed in the shirt that the nurse had left there for me. It was black, and the skirt reached my knees. How am I supposed to train in a skirt?
On the way out I made the mistake of looking in the mirror.
Ugly.
Worthless.
Two pale eyes rested on dark bags. I hadn't slept well at all. I shuddered and slopped water on my face. That made me feel better. I finger-combed my hair, wishing it were better, not the unattractive, raven-color it always was.
I walked out the hospital, shivering. Hopefully we were training inside. I always did. Father said it made me weak...
"Hinata Hyuuga?"
It was his voice. I rushed out. "Sorry if I'm late..."
"You're not. You're early. Hinata?"
"H-hai, that's me..." He didn't say anything, didn't make a move. He was standing at least ten yards away, the wind whipping through his clothes.
"Come at me."
I got into fighting stance.
For the first time I realized he carried around a gourd. It was large and threatening.
I remembered the Gaara, several years ago, at the Chuunin exams. He was intimidating and had true killer intent.
Of course I'd been afraid of him.
But now...I'd gotten...stronger.
I ran around him, trying to seek a weakness. There was one; he never turned around, never looked. He didn't have eye technique, so what was he playing at?
Quickly I ran forward, silently activating Byakugan. I created two clones at the same time, and sent them first.
I sent chakra up my arm, to my fingertips. They felt warm, powerful. Just then he turned around, his expression never changing.
"Jyuuken!" A wall of sand engulfed my arm. I cried aloud in pain; in the corner of my eye I saw the two doppelgangers melting into the sand. They were useless.
"That won't work." His voice wasn't amused, or cold. It was...matter-of-fact. It sounded like Neji's voice.
I scowled, building up chakra.
I felt anger, and managed to wrench my arm away.
His eyes widened. He didn't back away, though. I moved clockwise, creating one more doppelganger. One's all I need...I'll surprise him!
I ran towards him again, wind whipping through my short hair. In a flash, I ripped through my clone - I saw his eyes, the curve of his mouth - with Jyuuken and onto him -
Whoosh -
A wall of sand propelled m back - I landed with the wind leaving my lungs. How...?! And then I recalled even at Rock Lee's immense speed, he didn't beat Gaara.
After all these years...Gaara must have gotten even stronger!
I'm no match for him.
The realization hit me dully. I stopped and sat down. What was the use? I couldn't even beat someone like Sakura, or Ino...Gaara...he was the final level.
If I couldn't get past weaker people how could I beat Gaara?
A few seconds passed. Then he walked over, assuming a frowning countenance.
I didn't speak. I wanted to see how long it would take him to.
Silently wind rustled the trees. His expression faltered; his eyes narrowed. He sat down across from me.
After a few minutes he gave up. "What are you doing?"
"It's no use," I explained. "I - I'm much weaker than you are. It's no use in training."
Suddenly his face grew angry. He leaned over. "What's no use? You can always get stonger."
"N-no..." I didn't want to talk anymore. I stood up. "You'll always be stronger than me. That's a fact. Just as Konoha will always hate me."
His mouth turned into a snarl. "Don't say that! I didn't give up my dreams. You shouldn't give up yours."
For someone who was so taciturn he sure spoke a lot of crap.
"What dream? I have no d-dream."
I don't know why he was so heated up on this conversation. It was pure, cold, hard facts.
He walked away, his robes swaying.
On the back there were words inscribed on it...Kazekage.
I slumped down. N-no way...I dared to talk to a Kazekage like that? I would have to apologize...
I walked back into the hospital, glad of the heat there, and snuggled down in the covers.
But what did he mean about...dreams?
Aww...I totally LOVE GaaHina. Please review for my sake!!
If you don't like it don't review. If too many people don't review I won't continue...I don't know.
