Blind Dates and Moonflowers

Chapter 4

Gaara awoke to the sun streaming in his window. He quickly got dressed and weighed the consequences in his head of what Temari would do if he just snuck out the window and was nowhere to be found for the blind date from hell as he liked to call it now. Before he could decide Temari barged into the room and looked from him to the window and then back again her eyes narrowing. He realized then that she knew about his escape plan. Sometimes his sister was down right scary.

"Go ahead and run…but just to let you know plans have changed your date has been moved." She smirked and walked out the room.

His mind tried to process what she said. "Run…Date…Cancelled." As it registered he couldn't help but smile. He whistled as he strolled into the kitchen. Kankuro looked at him like he was crazy.

"Why you so dang happy about?" He growled unhappily. Temari had given him her orders and he was not happy.

"Well brother …I don't have to go on the stinking blind date from hell tonight. "He smiled.

Kankuro eyebrow rose at his normally unemotional brother who was smiling.

"Okay…so what are you going to do today?" Kankuro was hoping he would say stay home.

'Damn that Tamari and Shikamaru for this whole mess. I do not feel like spending the whole day spying on him.' He mumbled under his breath and banged his head on the table in despair causing Gaara to look at him funny.

"Kankuro you okay?" Gaara asked trying not to laugh at his brother's crazy behavior.

"Oh just peachy." He touted getting up and poring another cup of coffee. "Today definitely calls for coffee." When he turned to find out Gaara's plans for the day he found himself standing in the kitchen alone. "Well shit, this day just get's better and better." He moaned.

Gaara wasn't really sure why he had come here. Well he knew partly why. He knew he wanted to see Hinata. Which lead him to stop at the hospital since that is where she told him yesterday she would be working. That still didn't help him understand the other why. He never cared for being around most females. They were usually annoying, loud, whiney, bossy creatures. Well that's what he always thought until he met Hinata she didn't fit into any of those categories. So here he stood outside of the children's ward his hand still unable to push the door open. Uncertainty ran through his body but being Gaara he was no coward. As his hand reached out to push the door open the door slammed forward knocking him to the ground .A child about four ran out squealing with Hinata quick on her trail. Hinata stopped when she saw a surprised Kazekage sitting on the floor. Her hand went to her mouth trying hold back from laughing but she failed.

"Gaara what are you doing on the floor." She laughed.

Looking at her he got up and brushed himself off. "Apparently being run over by a toddler. Don't you have laws against this kind of torture to dignitaries?" He smiled jokingly. Hinata could not stop laughing. When had Gaara gotten such a sense of humor?

"Sorry about that Suki doesn't like taking her medicine." Smiling she held up a medicine bottle and measuring spoon.

"Hn…don't blame her those liquid medicines you guys give should come with warning labels." His grin grew wider as Hinata laughed so hard she snorted making her blush. He really did enjoy making her laugh.

"You have quite a sense of humor Gaara that I never expected. She smiled shyly.

"Living with Kankuro it sorta rubs off. My brother is a real smart ass most days." Gaara frowned as something down the hall caught his attention.

"Gaara you okay?" Hinata looked down the hall he was frowning at. Waving his hand he smiled.

"No my eyes must be playing tricks on me I swore I saw… oh never mind. So do you want me to help you find your runaway patient?" He looked back down the hall again . 'I must be seeing things. There is no reason why Kankuro would be here.'

"Sure…she is a tricky one…so don't say I didn't warn you. " She smiled giving him a wink.

"Okay I have been warned. How about you go left I will go right." She nodded as they separated.

As Gaara searched for the illusive toddler his mind was trying to still figure out the why he was so drawn to Hinata and to add to his uncertainty he asked himself why on earth he was helping her find a kid. He never thought much of them. They were very much like woman noisy, annoying, needy things. Yet with Hinata it didn't seem so annoying. What was Hinata doing to him? He was use to his life of causing fear in people. Of not using his emotions or caring about others. Granted he loved his sister and brother but that was as far as it went. That was until now. How on earth did this one woman shake up all of his emotions? His thoughts were stopped by the sound of a child's giggle. Looking around he saw a food cart pushed against the wall it had a cloth cover. Grabbing the end he bent over to peek under .There sat a very surprised little girl wide eyed and grinning.

"You must be Suki." Gaara said pulling the little girl out. She tried to run but he easily scooped her up and swung her over his shoulder, this caused her to squeal with laughter.

"Seems you and I both hate taking medicine." He chuckled.

"It's yucky!" The girl whined trying to get down. He nodded his head in agreement as his eyes found Hinata down the end of the hall. She smiled at she walked up to them.

"So you found my runaway huh." The little girl struggled when she realized it was Hinata.

Gaara put her down but held one hand on her shoulder to keep her from trying to get away again.

"No… no… no… no…I won't take it." she cried.

"I know it taste terrible but if you don't take it you won't get better." Hinata cooed softly. "If you are a good girl I'll give you a special treat."

"Okay "The girl said softly her small hand reached up and grabbed Gaara's hand. Gaara's eyes widened as he looked down at her. So many people feared him he was surprised that such a small child was not.

Hinata took the girls other hand as they walked back to the ward. Gaara was surprised to see so many sick children. The children all stared with curiosity when they walked in.

Hinata put Suki back to her bed and gave her a treat after she took her medicine. Suki almost backed out of their little deal till Gaara promised her a piggyback ride. Gaara soon found himself surrounded by kids who wanted a ride also. Hinata smiled and giggled as she watched them wear out one redheaded Kazekage.

"Your enjoying my back being in pain aren't you." He said to her even though he was loving every minute of it.

She nodded yes as she finished the paperwork piled up on her desk.

"Okay nap time everyone. When you wake up Sakura will be taking care of you." She ignored their groans as Gaara helped her get the kids settled back in.

After they were all settled Hinata led Gaara out of the children's ward. Grabbing her bag at the front counter they headed out.

She tilted her looking up at him. "I hope they didn't stress you out to much. I never took you as a kid person. Then again I never took you as a person who would pick flowers" She teased him bumping her shoulder against his playfully.

He grinned back at her giving her a nudge. "I am surprised myself but they were good kids and it must be hard for them being sick in bed on a nice day like this." She looked over at him as he became quiet.

"You were lonely as a child." She said it as a statement not as a question. He looked up at her in surprise.

"I had a demon in me. I was a monster…I didn't deserve to have friends." He mumbled under his breath. She stopped placing her hand on his arm her eyes searching his face seeing the hidden pain in his eyes.

"Everyone deserves friendship and love Gaara. Just because you were a vessel for Shukaku doesn't change that fact. Her hand went up to trace the Ai on his forehead. He drew in a breath at her soft touch. His own hand reaching up slowly tracing her jaw line. "Hinata…" He whispered his face moving closer to hers. His lips mere inches from hers.

"HINATA!!" Neji yelled causing them to pull away from each other quickly. "I have been looking for you everywhere." An out of breath Neji scoffed.

"Neji…what do you want? " Hinata sighed her voice having an ice tone to it.

"You're late." He scolded tugging on her arm. She pulled away glaring at him.

"Neji what in the hell are you going on about…I just got off work. I am not late for anything."

Neji sighed and shook his head. "Hinata how can you be such a scatterbrain? You know you're father has dinner plans for you and a very important suitor tonight. "Gaara's body tensed his fists clenched when he heard the word suitor.

"What? Father never said anything about another one of his damn set ups. "Hinata's rarely seen temper showing.

Neji looked from her to Gaara and back again. Taking a deep breath he grabbed her arm. "Hinata we need to go now before your father becomes more upset with you then he already is." Gaara noticed a flash of fear in her eyes.

"Hinata…" She cut off Gaara's words.

"Gaara …I…I…am …s…sorry. I…n…need to g…go." Hinata's fear of her father causing her stutter to return. Neji saw the anger in Gaara's eyes and the stutter of his cousin's voice.

'I am so dead!' He thought to himself. His mind flashed an image of Gaara's wrath. He knew they needed to leave now. 'What was I thinking going along with this stupid plan?' Quickly pulling Hinata he rushed them off towards the Hyuga compound leaving an angry Gaara standing in the road.

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