Another Chance
Sequel to "Alone With You",
GaaHina Pairing.

Chapter Two.

Godaime Kazekage sat down on his chair, enjoying the solitude. He stared at the pile of papers he just finished singning, he breathed out and pouted. The fifteen year-old kage is obviously bored.

He rested his forearms over the desk and crossed it, he leaned down and put his head over his arms. Gaara rested his eyes for a moment then sat back up, rubbing the tiredness off his eyes then turned the chair to the side. He turned his head and looked out through the circular windows arranged side-by-side.

The konoha nins have left yesterday, there wasn't anything more to do since all the countries are at peace. Gaara stood up and silently walked out of his office, he head out to the village to have his legs some exercise. The villagers greeted and lowered their heads everytime he passes by but he ignores them and silently pondered. Before the sun set, Gaara found himself in an abandoned playground residing beside a high land.

The wind blew and the swings moved softly by itself, he moved towards it and stared… Having the dreadful memories struggling in his mind. This was the place where he used to stay. Things just can't leave without any trace.

He sat down on the swing and held tightly to its cold chains, he tilted his head to the right and stared down at his large shadow. The wind softly blew, it wasn't strong enough to lift him up but strangely it did. The swing moved up to the sky, "Temari?" he thought, but what if he's wrong? He took off and landed safely back on the ground on a knee and foot, facing the source of the unidentified force.

"I-I'm sorry, d-did I startled y-you?" she held tight to her chest with the rosy color on her cheeks.

"Hyuga." He stood up firmly. His arms automatically crossed before his chest and examed closely the Konoha nin. "Why are you here?" he asked with his usual monotonous voice and cold gesture.

"I t-though…" she held in her explaination in obvious dissappointment. She shyly shook her head and looked down at her feet, once more defeated by his boldness. "N-nevermind." She softly said.

She kept on hiding behind those thick bangs of dark-color, but still, everyone can tell what's building up inside her. With her head facing down and hands and feet together, Gaara strangely acquired a voice at the back of his head. "Miss Cupid must've did this." He stepped back, "I…" his eyes slid down to the side, having a great war of his thoughts.

This is the very first time hesitated turning his back at someone, maybe words should really come out. Explain everything, tell her what his sister's wanting to do. "Why should I?" he snorted which took the attention of the lady far infront of him. He closed his eyes and proved his stubborness, turned around and left the lady without any other words escaping his mouth but the prompt question of: "Why are you here?"

Hinata bit her lower lip and tightened her fists. Why does she have to be this weak? Nothing will happen if she's like this… She shook her head off with those thoughts, it doesn't matter because she just have to give the feeling up sooner or later. She went home and practiced like any other day at their home. She packed up her things, slowly doing it in the frustration burning inside her mind to leave without a goodbye to Gaara.

The Hyuga Heiress sat down on her bed and looked down at her thin fingers. The way he looked at her, it had hurt her so much. His eyes were cold, but at least, it wasn't filled with hell-like emotions… but still, they looked different.

"Kazekage-sama?" Is there anything I could do for you?" a woman's voice sounded from the other size of the wall. Hinata stood up in surprise, "G-gaara-kun?" she head towards the door and touched the knob. Hinata felt so happy.

"Have you seen Matsuri?" a cold voice replied. Hinata ceased herself. "M-matsuri… again…" she held tight to her chest. She stepped back and threw herself back at her bed, she wondered. "What is Matsuri to Gaara-kun?" she lifted her knees and curled up like a cat, "What am I to Gaara-kun?" she closed her eyes and wept.

The red-head Kazekage sat down on his office, signing a few documents piled up at the corner of his desk when someone carefully knocked at the other side of the door. He put down his pen and looked up, "Come in." he casually said.

The door slowly opened, "Gaara-sama." Matsuri walked in, bowed her head and stood before his desk. "You were looking for me?"

Back at Hinata's rented room… She lied down, thinking about the things that has happened in her life. There must be some point that she's paying for right now, there must be a reason why she's suffering like this. There just should be.

She suddenly got alarmed at the footsteps getting louder, then the soft scratching against her door. She sat up, preparing herself for anything. She looked closely at the door which was slightly shaking, is someone wanting to go in?

"Who's there?" she asked, then the sounds ceased. An envelope slid through the tiny space between the door and the ground which Hinata noticed right away. She lifted herself up and cautiously walk towards the strangely sent letter. She bent down, slowly, reaching down to it. She picked it up and examined closely, but it was just an oridnary letter. She stood up with the letter firmly between her fingers, she sat back at her bed and thought who might send her one. She flip it around, still unmoved that it's just one simple letter.

Out of undying curiousity, Hinata opened the envelope. She pulled a piece of paper, her face flushed read as she read it.

The letter said: "Heiress of the Hyuga Clan, Meet me at my office as soon as possible." And then, at the bottom right corner of the paper said: "Sabaku no Gaara".

It was so formal and precise, there might be more than fifty percent possibility that the letter really came from him. Hinata's heart started trembling, she stared with disbelief and shock. She crawled to the center of her bed and lied down on her stomach, playing with the letter between her fingers.

She wanted to go, who wouldn't? There's just one problem, she doesn't know what to say. She sunk her head between her shoulders and started swinging her feet high, "…G-gaara-kun…" she sighed.

Gaara walked up the stairs silently, he looked straight to his destination. Godaime Kazekage used to think only of his job, but now? Something was terribly catching his attention. "…" And a lady, perhaps?

He did his best and maintained a straight face, he stepped up to the top floor and head to his left where his office would be. A hand came out of nowhere and snatched him on the loose cloth around his neck, pulling him inside a vacant room. "Oi, Gaara!"

"What?" he raiseda hand and slapped Temari's hand away with the back of his. He fixed his robe and gave a little attention to her blabbering about a 'plan', but he gave TOO little attention that he couldn't understand most of all the words coming out of her mouth. "How was the search?" he stared blankly at his sister who suddenly froze. His face acquired an unusual expression. "Temari?"

Her hand heavily landed on his shoulder, "S-search p-part-ties… r-right…" she forced out a laugh, "I… I forgot." She withrew her hand and walked down the stairs.

The fifteen year old kagelet out a sigh and continued his way to his office at the end of the hall. He touched the knob and twisted it slowly, he pushed the door and went inside. Gaara pushed it to a close slowly with his palm, he turned to his desk and suddenly froze as he saw a silhouette staring out through the windows. His heart started beating fast, "Hina… hina…ta…"

The woman turned, "Gaara-sama." Her eyes were dark and hair was lighter. The lady was Matsuri, his apprentice.

Dark-rimmed eyes narrowed, "…"

Behind the closed doors, there was Hinata praying that everything would turn out fine. She breathed in, "Don't waste this chance, Hinata." She said to herself, "Catch his attention! Open the door!" she touched the knob, twisted it… and pushed it hard. "GAARA!"

Yet she got surprised why it sounded like it hit something. "O-oOps…"

"Gaara-sama!" Matsuri rushed to his side. The edge of the door hit the back of his head, he fell down to his knees… feeling a little dizzy.

"G-gaara-kun! I-I'm…" she looed down at him with fear.

Wrong place. Wrong time… wrong decision.

"Sorry!" she bowed her head and ran away as fast as she could.

"Wait!" Gaara straightened his legs and tried to catch her, but he fell off balance. "Shit." He watched her run with gritted teeth and sharp eyes, "Shit." He watched her run with gritted teeth and sharp eyes, "…You wasted the chance, dammit!" he scolded himself.

"What a clumsy konochi." She muttered.

"Ch." He stood straight up and glared at his student, "If you're going to talk like that, make sure I don't hear it." He turned and walked to his chair, "You're dismissed." He leaned back and rested his eyes.

"Forgive me, Gaara-sama." Matsuri lowered her head and left.

"That hurt." He reached the back of his head and checked for wounds, "But you don't have to run away." He turned his head and looked out of the windows, "I have no choice now but to wait--…"

"--…for another chance." Hinata told herself as she sat down before the door. "Stupid." She tightened her grip to her lavander jacket.

o O o APPLICANT FOR MR. CUPID o O o

Temari ran down the streets of the desert village, heading quickly to the gates. "K-kankuro!" she slid a foot forward to slow herself up. She bent down and raced for air, she panted.

The kabuki-inspired ninja looked down strangely to his sister, "Did something bad happened?" he put a hand over her back and rubbed it. "You alright?" he worriedly asked as he moved his free hand up and down in a very fast motion, supplying more air for her.

She lifted a hand and snatched him by his neck, "You MUST help me!" she yelled.

o O o Sabaku no Kankuro's Resumé: ACCEPTED o O o

The hyuga heiress is down on her knees, securing her things in her bag. "…That's it." She sighed and pulled its trap as she stood up and slid it to her shoulder. "…I don't think he wants to see me anymore." She looked down at her feet and thought of the time when they got stuck in the bathroom together. It was fun and very memorable for her, but, for Gaara it most probably be his most embarassing memory and he doesn't want to be reminded of it. She's sure embarrased herself, but she enjoyed it really. It was the very first time when she has looked through his form of ice, from then, she realized, he wasn't that scary. Not half bad, really… He isn't how people rumored him to be.

Yet… in her heart, she persuaded herself that those memories are quite enough after all, she has gone through a heart break already, the second one shouldn't be a lot harder. She'll just… get over him. Yes… forget about Sabaku no Gaara.

She silently went out of her room then out of the building, "Sayonara…" she looked back up to Suna's highest building, "…Gaara-kun." Roses seemed to bloom on her cheeks, she sweetly smiled as she said her silent farewell. She hoped that she would at least see him one last time, but he's probably busy with those paper works. Hinata… doesn't want to be a bother. She turned around and head to the gates.

This time, her silent wishes were answered… Gaara watched her leave from his office. Maybe he wanted to say goodbye, too… or maybe not. Yet his face showed nothing else but a trace of blush and joy, his lips were curled at one end… and his eyes were softer than ever. His heart was trembling as well, there were so many things he wanted to say but he forbids himself.

Maybe the love between them isn't just right… :

Sabaku no Gaara is nothing else but a man for himself.
Hyuga Hinata is nothing but a woman of giving.

But maybe it doesn't matter… Maybe now's just not the time.

Just seeing her leave like this wasn't enough for the frozen kage, he really wants to say goodbye… But he shouldn't. He opened his lips, "I'm looking forward in meeting you again, Hyuga Hinata."

Chapter Two: Hold Tight