The Sand Prince

A.N.: Well here is the second chapter to the revised version of The Sand Prince. Gaara's otome said it was a bit confusing…tell me what was confusing and I will try to correct it. But thank you and my other reviews for taking the time to review… I also know that chapter was quite short... I'm sorry and I will try to make this one longer… any who on with the story….

Chapter 2 -Rumors

The pearl eyed man with long dark chocolate hair stared at the magnificently large Hyuuga palace.

"It's good to be home… isn't Lord Neji?" One of his generals commented. He nodded his head silently. He could not have agreed more. It was early morning when they arrived home. Most of the soldiers had been released from duty to go home to their families when they had reached the Hyuuga Kingdom borders. Only 2 of his generals were left with him. They had to give their reports to the King. He knew not many people were awake at this hour, mostly only sentries and servant that were preparing for the day.

He knew one girl who would be up this early. She would be in the south courtyard training with her captain of Haruno guard. He climbed down from his horse as the stable boy took the horse from him. He absently thanked the boy, his thoughts on a certain pink haired girl. He hadn't seen her in months and had missed her while he had been away.

'I'll go see her…perhaps train with her…' he thought, but just before he did that he was stopped by a messenger boy.

"Lord Neji, the King wishes to see you, he has something important to discuss with you…"

Neji nodded and followed the boy back to his uncle's, the Hyuuga King, rooms. The servant let him in to the room where his uncle, aunt, and cousin sat eating breakfast. His uncle motioned for him to come join them at the table.

"Neji, come sit and eat."

Neji did as he was told sitting formally at the left hand side of his uncle at the breakfast table.

"I assume your mission was complete and the War successful." The king stated knowing Neji would not be sitting before him otherwise. Neji's pearl glazed said nothing of what he was thinking and he made no indication of disagreement. His uncle continued eyeing Neji distastefully. It was common knowledge that the King held no love for Neji, but he being his only living male relative and Neji having a talent for the warring arts and fighting arts made him noteworthy to the King.

"There is a reason as to why I sent for you, it is as follows; Crown Princess Hinata is to be married to Leaf's Crown Prince Naruto. I am sending her to the Leaf Kingdom to live amongst until the wedding which will proceed with in three months. For her travels there she has requested to have Countess Sakura as a travel companion." He paused noticing Neji's interest increase after hearing the pink haired countess's name. "But just Countess Sakura as protection is not enough… even with her more than able guards. You will be going with them to help protect and escort the Crown princess and Countess to the Leaf Kingdom as well as my General Rock Lee."

The king could almost tell what was going on behind Neji's stone façade at the mention of the foolish General Rock Lee. They were friends for years but Rock Lee was infatuated with the Countess Sakura and pined after her publicly even after her refusal of his hand in marriage, and if his guess was right Neji also wanted the girl, so their friendship had diminished, well, on Neji's side. Rock lee did not know of Neji's love of the same girl, therefore remained the same toward Neji. Neji would not like traveling with the General, not at all.

"I have other matters to discuss with you but I cannot discuss them in front of delicate women, they should not hear the gruesome details of war. It might make them faint in fear and I would rather not have such drama in the morning before I have finished my breakfast." The king did not see the angry and indignant looks of his queen and daughters, Neji saw and turned to leave after biding them goodbye and good day. Just as he was about to leave the room his uncles voice called out to him.

"Neji, you had better bathe and rest up… for you will be joining me in court today at noon."

Neji nodded bowed and exited the quiet room.

Noon in the Court room

Neji silently moved among the court members assembled. Most lords and ladies spent their time in court mingling. Most of them congratulated him on his victory over the nameless kingdom. He thanked them and moved on through the crowds, looking for someone he knew would not be there, but yet he still hope to catch a sight of pink and hear the soft melodious laughter that belong to the her. He knew she would not be there , she preferred learning how to fight with a sword, knife, battle axe, bow and arrow anything she could get her hands on, to coming to the stupid court gatherings. Still he hoped she had heard of his arrival and had come to see him.

He didn't realize how much he had missed her, how much he missed her quick wit, sharp skills, her teasing, and just plain her, until he went to war for months on end. Not being allowed to even catch a glimpse of her. He was stopped from his search when the musicians stopped playing the soft melody, signaling that the Royal Family had arrived.

The royal family entered and sat at the thrones placed on the dais. His uncle signaled for him to come stand with them. He walked to them with his head held high, even though disappointment filled his heart. Why had she not come? Did she not want to see him? Did she not know he was back? These questions raced in his mind as he walk to the dais, bowed and then stepped up to where his cousin Hinata sat and stood beside her. She looked tensed and worried. Only he could tell what she was feeling even with her stone faced court mask.

"It'll be alright, Hinata." He whispered to her. She nodded and smiled weakly at him.

The king proceeded to tell the court of Hinata's engagement and of her going to live in the leaf kingdom. His uncle finished and motion for the court to continue as they were before he and his family arrived. Neji grew bored of watching the nobles talk. His thoughts were troublesome as well. They would not cease on the subject on his pink haired friend. Suddenly the music stopped and the door man announced over the voices, which were beginning to hush, who had arrived.

"Countess Sakura del Haruno of the Haruno Clan."

Neji's heart skipped a beat as he watched her enter the room. Her soft flowing pink hair falling around her in a pink cloud. It was long than he remembered. Her green eye were neutral, not even betraying one thought. He watched her stop and bow to them. He heard his uncle invite her closer. Then the king began to tell her about Hinata betrothal to Naruto.

He watched her the whole time, his eyes drinking the site of her in. If he hadn't been watching her so closely he would have missed the fleeting surprised look that crossed her face as the king was explaining something he didn't hear. He saw her look directly at Hinata then bow, turn and leave the throne room. He wanted to go after her and talk to her but he knew he could not leave without the king's permission.

Lalalalalalalalalalala bored yet? Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala Well are you? Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

Cold jade eyes scanned the horizons of the vast sandy desert that was the Sand Kingdom. The owner of the jade eyes turned away to face the trembling spy behind him. Sand shifted around them due to the strong winds.

"So the Crown Princess of Hyuuga is going to leaf to marry the Leaf's Crown prince?"

The spy nodded. His eyes darted from the cold man before him to the ground and back again. The spy wore a mask that concealed most of his face. Only the bridge of hid nose and eyes showed.

"And why is this information supposed to be important to me?"

The spy was at a loss for words.

"As a matter of fact, why do I need you?"

The spy's eyes widen a fraction in surprise. Speechless he tried to think of a reason to keep him around.

"The Duke Neji will also with them …. Gaara, you know we owe him a favor for what he did to Mizami." A voice spoke up from the side of the cold man. "His cousin is important to him, should we kidnap her then he would be forced to save her, resulting in his untimely death." Gaara turned to look at the man who had spoken. He cared not an inch for Mizami, but the rest of his bandit gang did and he needed their loyalties. So he consented to the plan. He cared not one bit if the Hyuuga duke lived or died, nor if his precious cousin lived or died in their care.

"Fine, we'll kidnap the Hyuuga princess and hold her hostage, and see if her cousin can brave the wonders of the desert to save her…"

"You know, he will, even if he is near death, he will be honor bound to save her. He is a knight after all. They are all honor bound to save a damsel in distress…." The spy spoke up.

Gaara nodded. "When do they leave?"

"Three days, sir."

Gaara turned to his evilly grinning scouts.

"We'll wait at the Hyuuga Mountain border. They will be going through the pass, attacking them there will be easy for us. It'll take them two days after they leave the royal city to reach the pass. As soon as the cross in to Sand kingdoms side of the pass we will drive them towards the ravine. We'll take the Princess and retreat to the oasis; kill any who try to follow. We will injure the Hyuuga Duke, just to make it more difficult for him to follow us. He'll find us… I'll have Kiba's tribe of desert dog warriors' help lead him to us, subtlety of course. You have your orders go and tell the rest, we move out at dawn."

Lalalalalalalalalalalalala I wonder what will happen…. Don't you? Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

Hinata sat with her back to her door in a chair, watching her servant pack her clothes and belongs.

'Never coming back….. Never seeing Mama, sister, or Neji again. Possibility Sakura if she chose to leave…'

Tears she had refused to shed in front of her Father, flowed freely now. She couldn't stand the thought of leaving everyone. She did not hear the door open nor, did she see her pink haired best friend sneak up on her. Shock momentarily stopped her silent crying as pale arms wrapped around her in a hug.

"Sakura?"

"Yes?"

Her crying started up in full force again as soon as the shock had passed.

"I don't want to leave! I want to stay with everyone here!"

"Shhh… I know … shhh... It's going to be ok."

"No it's not… at least you have the choice to come back if you want!"

Sakura felt instantly guiltily of only thinking of her self. She did have the choice to come back or not. Hinata had no choice. How could she be so selfish?

"Hina-chan… I'm not coming back… I'm going to stay with you."

Hinata looked at her stunned in to silence.

"Wha? Why?"

Sakura smiled down at her best friend.

"Why not? I couldn't let you stay there all by yourself… you're so shy, you'd barely even be able to talk to anyone… and timid… Ino would be there but she would be bossing you around so much… she would mean well… but… you know how Ino can be…"

Hinata smiled back up at her. Things would be better with Sakura there….but what about Neji? They had all three grown up together; it was always the three of them.

"What about Neji, he'd be alone here… with Father…."

"Well…."

"Well, I'd stay a few weeks with you all just to make sure you were alright… then I'd find a reason to visit often enough it'll seem like I stayed there too.." a male voice spoke up behind them. They both spun to face a tired looking Neji. His chocolate colored hair hung loosely around his face. Sakura ran to him and threw her arms around the surprised duke.

"Neji!" she murmured his name.

Hinata watched as Neji's eye soften to a tenderness Hinata had never seen him have for anybody but Sakura. If Hinata had it her way, Neji and Sakura would be married already. She thought they were perfect for each other. Neji hugged Sakura back, crushing her to himself, unable to let go.

"Sakura…" he breathed her name into the skin of her neck. Sakura blushed and tried to wiggle from his grasp.

"Neji… Need air…..…to breathe…" He blushed and apologized but didn't let go. He loosely hung his arms around her, before finally releasing her.

Hinata beamed. They were all together again.

Shalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala You think you know what's going to happen …. Don't you? Shalalalalalaalalalalalalalalalalalala

Neji lay in bed that night reflecting on what his uncle had said.

"Neji, there are rumors of a desert bandit gang that is ranging free in the Sand Kingdom's Desert, they are nigh uncatchable… and they rob from the rich… but they do not give to the poor.. They slaughter every man and either take the women as prisoners of war or they let them wonder the desert till they're found. That's why I'm sending more than enough guards and soldiers with you all."

Neji sighed… That would just draw the bandit's attention… tomorrow was another day and he would try to convince the king of his point.

A.N.: So what do you think? A bit longer, ne? Please review and tell me what you think! Oh and sorry about any grammar or spelling mistakes… Didn't have time to edit much… Sorry!...