Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 4

They had been running for three hours in a row, and – despite all her prior expectations – she was still alive. At the head, there was Gaara, followed by Kankuro carrying Hinata's backpack (because, as he had stated, a gentleman cannot let a woman carry such weight in his presence), and she, Temari and Usagi in the tail, chatting casually.

-Frankly speaking – said Temari smling at Hinata – I had expected you to be some spoilt brat with rich parents... And surprise! Not only you are running third hour without complains, but you also had packed reasonable amount of stuff! Even Gaara was impressed, really!

-Um… thank you? I took only what was… irreplaceable… I mean – it's not like there aren't any shops in Suna, right? You can always buy something… like, um…more clothes…

-That's right! Kami, what a relief! At least one person thinking straight and not taking Suna for some forsaken place!- Temari touched his head in a theatrical gesture, and Usagi giggled. – Seems like you are a fine kunoichi after all.

-Not exactly... – opposed Hinata weakly.

-Oi! I just told you a compliment – it means something! – Temari turned her head to Kankuro and shouted – right, Kanky?

-Right, right. No idea what you're talking about, but right. – Kankuro yelled back to her. – Well, it would be a war if I told otherwise – he murmured quietly to himself.

-See? – Temari grinned triumphantly.

Flushed, Hinata averted her gaze.

-Oh, did I embarrass you? Sorry, sorry, didn't mean it! You're just so sweet, Hina-chan! I always wanted to have such baby sister! – Temari chuckled. – And… it seems that you've caught Kankuro's fancy! Better watch out, he's a terrible lady-killer!

Well, Temari was rather straightforward… but in a nice way. Hyuuga looked at the boy carrying her backpack. Has she really caught his fancy? She was thinking about him as a… well, she wasn't thinking about him at all, actually. Her gaze involuntarily slipped to the redhead at the head. Murderer… She shivered slightly. She hoped Temari didn't notice it, but she was wrong. Blonde followed Hinata's stare and frowned.

-Oi, Hina-chan, come closer. We need to talk. – Sand kunoichi said quietly, so as not to be heard by others. When the distance between and Hyuuga was small enough, she stated:

-It's about Gaara. – and observed changes on younger girl's face. She grew pale, and her white eyes widened slightly in fear. – I suppose you heard this and that about him?

Hinata nodded. She had heard about him, even too much.

-You see – continued blonde, choosing her words with care – somehow… he has changed.

Hyuuga looked at Temari suspiciously.

-He's… less aggressive. Calmer. In the past, I was too terrified to even breath in his presence… but now he resemblances this sweet kid he once was. – Temari sighed with relief. The worst part had been said. – I don't know what exactly happened. After the last fight with this Uzumaki boy he just… is somebody else. Well, I'm not stating he's… normal – she added nervously – he's just… just different…

-I understand, Temari-chan. – Hinata ensured her, still not fully believing in what she just heard. She still remembered cracks of bones breaking in Sand Coffin, she would never forget it.

He would change? In less than a month?

Absurd.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

-Hime, we're sleeping together, right? – he heard squeaky voice of the cat.

-Hai, hai – girly voice replied and laughed slightly.

-And me, can I also sleep with you? – Kankuro asked smoothly.

There was a moment of total, complete silence, then 'THUD!' and Kankuro's suppressed curse.

-Pervert. – Temari stated calmly.

They were at the border of the Land of Fire, preparing to spend the night in some woods. Gaara was sitting in the high branch of a tree, observing sunset. 'Color of blood mixed with orange juice' – as stated Shukaku. Kami, was blood everything this tanuki could think of?

Meanwhile his siblings, invisible from tree top where Gaara was sitting, had started to argue about places to sleep.

-I want to sleep next to Hinata! – declared Temari loudly. – She's sweet and as delicate as porcelain doll! And she doesn't reek like you, Kanky!

-Wha?... I… I want to sleep next to Hina-chan! While sleeping too close to you, she might catch your stupidity!

Gaara frowned. He was aware of the fact, that it was only their usual daily argument, but today he had been unexpectedly touchy.

-Shut up, both of you! Just place Hyuuga between yourselves and go o sleep, dammit! Is it really that hard? – he yelled in the general direction of ground. His brother and sister instantly fell silent.

-Ummm, Sabaku-san… – he heard timid voice – and you, don't you go to sleep?

-Hn. – he snarled, irritated – I never sleep!

-'Oh my, you poor thing' – Shukaku mocked him – 'I never sleep… What a drama queen! You know, kid, it's not like you're physically unable to, khie khie khie…'

-'Oh, sorry that I never wanted you to go wild, while I would be sleeping like a log!' – redhead answered him in his thoughts.

-'Just admit it – you WOULD like to taste blood once again, right?' – the voice inside his had tempted him.

-'… No.'

-'Oi, Gaara-chan, I know you well enough, khie khie khie… you're hungry, just as I am. Still hungry…'

-'But I'm not you! I don't crave for blood! It didn't work!' – jinchuuriki brushed his hair in a nervous way.

-'Because we still didn't spill enough delicious, red liiiiquiiiid…' – whispered the demon. Sand started to dance around Gaara's wrists. – 'Just think about it… Red blood on skin as white as snowflake… beautiful contrast, isn't it?' – sand, like snake, started to slide down the trunk.

-'Shut up!' – Gaara calmed his sand. Demon wasn't this restless since long time. What was this all about?

-'THE GIRL, you moron! This little, horribly sweet Hyuuga! Kill her!' – Redhead's temple started to throb with pain.

-Oi, oi, any problems? – asked squeaky voice. Gaara turned head in its direction and met a pair of green eyes, staring intensively at him.

-Baka neko… - boy cursed under his breath, turning his head away.

-You're flattering me, Sabaku san – said Usagi coming closer to him – but the right pronunciation is 'bakeneko'. BA-KE-NE-KO. Besides, I can see that something is not right. It would be good idea to tell about it, before you do something you would regret later, nya?

Gaara had to admit, that it was quite logical reasoning.

-Shukaku wants to kill Hyuuga – he said with grimace of pain on his face, because bijuu roared furiously.

-No wonder – Usa started to wash its paw. – Hime can see tenketsu with her byakugan… and block chakra flow at will. No chakra – no fun.

-This bitch is weak as a nestling – growled Gaara in low, hoarse voice, being controlled by Shukaku. – I don't give a shit about her degenerated eyes! I just want to bathe in her blood!

-Lies, ichibi. You are just afraid of her. She can't stay weak and defenseless forever, right?

Gaara couldn't believe it. This blood thirsty demon sealed inside him…was afraid? Impossible!

-Easy, nya? – cat tilted head and pricked his ears. – Now we have another problem: how to protect hime…

-From me… - ended redhead.

-From demon, Gaara-san. It is him that wants her in Sand Coffin, not you.

Xxxxx

AN: I was rewriting this chapter several times to make it acceptable. Still too much talking, I know… However it will change soon!

And I'm getting better at translating ^^ yay!