So Close, So Far

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN: I had some extra time this morning, so I wrote this chapter. I think I was supposed to be helping pack up or something like that, but this was more fun. Hope you like the chapter! R&R!

"Hello Hinata-chan," Temari said, trying to sound relaxed. She kept glaring at Kankuro all the same.

"Hello Temari-chan, Kankuro-san," Hinata said meekly. She sensed that something was wrong.

"Hinata, we have to question you, unfortunately," Kankuro said plainly. "If you would cooperate, that would be welcomed."

"Of course I would cooperate," Hinata said politely. Temari shot an I-told-you-so look to Kankuro, who rolled his eyes.

"Get on with it," Gaara ordered, his celadon eyes cool and unfeeling.

"Of course, Gaara," Temari said, slightly nervous. She hadn't seen her brother like this in so long. More demonic. "Hinata-chan, do you know who did this to you?"

Hinata opened her mouth, but no words came out. She blinked in surprise and tried again, but the silence did not yield. As she began to try a third time, a violent coughing fit shook her small frame. Gaara sat up straighter, his eyes showing hints of concern. Temari handed her a bottle of water, instructing her to drink. Her coughing fit subsided.

"I'm guessing he put a jutsu on you so you couldn't say who did it to," Kankuro said.

"Don't worry, Hinata-chan. We'll find him," Temari promised, smiling slightly.

"Should we alert Konoha of your whereabouts?" Kankuro asked.

"N-no!" Hinata half-cried, her eyes wide with fear.

Temari and Kankuro exchanged confused glances. Gaara sat back and watched the scene in front of him. Temari finally asked, "Why shouldn't we?"

"Because…" Hinata tried to continue, but words failed her again.

"Hang on," Kankuro said. "The person who did this to you, he's from Konoha, isn't he?"

Hinata looked up gratefully at Kankuro and nodded. Gaara didn't like that she was looking at Kankuro like that. He dearly wanted to kill his brother, but restrained himself. He couldn't stop himself from glaring at Kankuro, however. Kankuro did not notice. Temari noticed.

"All right, Kankuro," Temari said. "Let's go. We've got all the information we need."

"Fine," Kankuro agreed, standing up. He could tell that something was up. They bid Hinata and Gaara good-bye and left.

Gaara watched his captive angel. Her head was bowed, her dark hair curtaining her face. She wasn't moving a muscle, but Gaara felt that maybe she was hiding something.

"Are you crying?" Gaara asked softly. His voice was no longer cold and unfeeling.

Hinata looked up at him. Sure enough, there were tear marks on her face and several tears falling down her face still. The tears did everything to enhance her ethereal beauty. Gaara got up and moved closer to her. Hinata wasn't sure what to do. Half of her, the sensible half, wanted her to run away. The other half wanted her to stay. She compromised by staying, but not looking at him.

"Hinata, look at me," Gaara instructed. She had no choice but to look at his crystal celadon eyes. His eyes were cool with a hint of longing. What could a demon be longing for?

Gaara found no fear in her eyes, like he had expected when she didn't meet his gaze. Instead, there was just a dull blankness and a feeling of utter loneliness in those pearly eyes. A feeling of being lost was there also. All feelings he knew well. However, why would an angel feel those feelings?

Gently, he wiped away her tears. He half-expected her to cringe from his touch. He was a demon, she an angel. But, she did not cringe. She did not pull away from him. She just stared at him with slight confusion. She was not used to a demon being gentle. She waited for him to lash out at her. To try and break her.

Still, she trusted him. He didn't do what she expected. He stroked her gently, like she was something precious and fragile. She wasn't used to be treated like that. He moved his face closer. So close. Their lips were almost touching.

Hinata waited, wondering why he didn't just kiss her. Then, she realized he was waiting for her. He wasn't sure if he should go any farther. He knew their differences. So, she nodded. Just as the demon's and the angel's lips met, the door banged open and someone entered the room.

Hinata pulled away from Gaara and looked at the person. Gaara was angry at the person who had entered, but decided not to kill the person right off. He would find out why they had come in. Then, maybe he would kill the person.

The head doctor had come back in. He was glancing at his clipboard and walking towards them.

"Lord Kazekage, I need to perform another test on this girl, since she is awake," the doctor said. There was something different about him. "I would be much obliged if you would leave the room."

Gaara nodded curtly and got up. Hinata watched him leave with sadness in her eyes. He was the first demon she had ever met that was not rough with a girl. That was the last thing she thought before she blacked out.

Gaara stood outside waiting for a while. There was something different about the doctor and he didn't know what. It was hard to concentrate when the angel kept interrupting his thoughts. Just as Gaara was going to give up figuring it out, he heard a muffled groan coming from the room and it all clicked.

Gaara reentered the room at a run. Hinata and the doctor were not in the room, but the window was wide open. Gaara summoned a sand platform as he jumped out the window. It caught him on the third story (the room was on the fourth story). Looking around, Gaara spotted something in the alleyway. He guided the platform down to the ground and entered the alleyway on foot.

He saw Hinata leaned against a wall, her eyes were wide with terror as she attempted to fight. The doctor was leaning over her with a kunai in one hand. Gaara put out a hand and formed a fist. The sand moved at his command. Sand Coffin. The man was dead before he even realized what had happened.

Hinata staggered to the ground. She shouldn't have been standing so soon. The wounds had been deadly. Gaara walked over to her and picked her up. She didn't protest. She let him carry her back to the room. It was nice, being carried by a demon, she thought as she started to doze off. It was nice.