A few days after Hinata had her heart broken, I walked towards her on her way to training. I kept my head down and bumped into her, pretending to not notice her. I loved the way that her body collided with mine. I tried to take in every detail and preserve it so that if she rejected me, I could still have that memory.

"Oh, Gaara-San, I'm so sorry. Please f-forgive me," Hinata stammered.

I extended my hand and helped her up.

"It was my fault, Hinata. Are you injured?" I asked.

"No," she whispered.

I realized that she was shaking. I could have kicked myself when I realized that she obviously had heard the rumors about me. I had not in the least wanted her to be frightened.

"Hinata, as a way of saying sorry, would you allow me to buy you a cup of tea?"

I saw Hinata hesitate, and I prepared myself for rejection.

"Sure," she said, smiling.

Hinata and I walked to a little tea shop in the village and sat in a corner booth.

"So, Hinata, what were your plans for today," I asked.

"Oh, I was picking up some herbs that I couldn't find in the forest."

I nodded.

Although we didn't speak much, it felt great to be so close to Hinata. Just looking into her eyes was worth a week of conversation. We communicated on a level that I had never experienced even with my siblings. It was over two hours before we realized what the time was. Hinata jumped up.

"I have to go," Hinata said. "Father will be very angry with me. I didn't even get the herbs."

"How about I walk home with you and explain the situation. Then your father will not be mad," I offered.

"Gaara-San, I don't think that's a good idea..." Hinata said.

"Nonsense. It will be OK," I insisted.

Hinata nodded, knowing that I wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Walking back to the Hyuga home, Hinata held my hand. I could tell that she was scared, but I couldn't imagine why. Until, that is, we got close enough to the house to hear her father.

"Where is that worthless piece of shit?"

I felt Hinata begin to tremble. Tears came into her eyes.

"I have to go, Gaara-San," she said.

She started to run ahead, but I followed her.

"I'll walk you in as we had planned. Everything will be fine," I said.

Hinata's father threw open the door before we reached it.

"Who is this?" He yelled.

Hinata stepped forward, but I stopped her before she could speak.

"Please, sir, forgive your daughter. I bumped into her on her way to the market and she fell. Naturally, I wanted to be sure that she wasn't injured, so I treated her to a cup of tea. Time slipped away from us, so I escorted her home."

I tried to be as polite as I could, but it didn't phase Hiashi Hyuga. He roughly grabbed Hinata by the arm and threw her onto the floor.

" I will deal with you later," he said gruffly. "As for you, I don't want any monsters around my daughter. Stay away."

I had no choice but to walk away. I knew that Hinata would hate me if I fought her father, and, to tell the truth, I'm not so sure that I could have one. It wasn't a matter of physical strength, I knew I was stronger then him, but he didn't have a broken heart to deal with.

I could hear Hinata crying as I walked away from her home.