A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Disclaimer: Nope Santa disappointed me…
Chapter 4: It's getting better all the time
I have to admit it's getting better
A little better all the time
It can't get no worse
I have to admit it's getting better
It's getting better since you've been mine
Getting so much better all the time
Gaara entered the graveyard, Daisuki's small hand clutched in his. After walking a little ways in they both stop.
"Otou-san is it time to pray?" Daisuki asks his father.
"Hai Daisuki, it's time to pray." Gaara answered.
Daisuki nodded and got on his knees and closed his eye before beginning to pray like his father. However he activated his Byakugan so he would know when his father stopped praying. He hated coming to the graveyard, it always made him sad and tired.
Daisuki's fathers eyes opened and he stood up. The small boy deactivated his blood line limit and stood up as well. Gaara bowed to the grave and began to walk away, Daisuki following after him.
"Daisuki," he said sternly.
"Hai otou-san?" Daisuki asked confused.
"Say goodbye." Gaara said.
"Sayonara, okaa-san."
Gaara walked quickly to the playground, hoping that the woman and her daughter hadn't been waiting long for them. He paused for a moment as he felt his stomach flip. Daisuki pulled on his father's hand, trying to get him to move. The red head looked up at his son who looked concerned.
"Are you okay daddy?" he asked.
"Y-yeah, my stomach just feels a little strange." He answered. "It was probably because of breakfast."
Daisuki nodded and they were off on there way again. They finally made it to the small park. There were small clusters of children and adults but no sign of the duo from the other day. He felt his son squeeze his hand and inhale sharply. Gaara kneeled in front of Daisuki and placed his hands on his small shoulders.
"It's okay they'll be here, they're probably just late." Gaara reasoned.
Daisuki nodded his dark head, and Gaara led his son to a bench and they waited. It felt like hours had passed even the Kazekage was getting impatient. He heard a large sniffle from his side. Glancing over he saw his son look up at him with cloudy aqua eyes that brimmed with large tears.
"They're not coming." He said quietly.
Gaara wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders and let the small boy cry into his side. He looked at the hot and barren ground remembering similar situations during his own childhood.
"GOMEN!"
His head snapped up as he glanced over to the direction of the shout and felt a contented smile appear on his face. The woman from yesterday was running towards them dragging her tired looking daughter after her. She skidded to a halt in front of them and bowed her head deeply.
"I am so so so very sorry Kazekage-sama." She managed to say between large gasps of air. "Ai and I had a few…mishaps this morning."
Flashback
She was walking down the hall of a hospital, being lead by a tall lean red headed man. A strange calm settled over her when she saw the man and grabbed his hand. He turned to look back at her a warm smile on his face, but his eyes weren't visible underneath his spiky bangs. They walked into a small room and Hinata touched her belly softly. The red headed man sat her down in a soft and comfortable chair and he stood to her right holding her hand in his the entire time. Another wave of emotions hit her, except this time they were feelings of panic and dread. However for the life of her she couldn't remember why.
"Good morning Hinata." A kind voice echoed in her dream.
She looked up and recognized the blonde woman vaguely, her honey colored eyes smiled down on her as she took a seat in front of her and the red headed man gave her hand a squeeze.
"Let's take a look at the little bundle of joy, he is going to be one of Konoha's own one day." She said kindly before placing a glowing palm on her still quite small stomach.
Bundle of joy? That meant she must be pregnant. How did that happen? WHEN had that happened? Konoha? That was the name of the village hidden in the leaves. Looking up at the woman she finally put a name to the face.
"Tsunade." The name came out in a whisper.
"Yes?" the woman asked curiously as she continued to examine Hinata's abdomen.
"Nothing." Hinata answered.
"Ahh!" Tsunade said suddenly and then looked at the couple and smiled. "It kicked."
Hinata looked up at the red head, who kissed her hand softly and the blonde woman took her other hand and placed it on her stomach.
"Feel." She said.
There was a soft kick and Hinata felt tears start to gather in her eyes. She was so happy.
"Do you feel it?" the man asked.
"Y-yes," she said thickly as a few tears fell down her cheeks.
Her throat began to burn and it became hard for her to breath, but then the smell of burning hair filled her nose.
Hinata sat up abruptly, slightly reluctant to leave her bliss full dream. That was when she took in her surroundings. The small gypsy cart that she called home was filled with smoke. She sprang from the bed and rushed to the kitchen where Ai was standing in front of their make shift stove.
"What happened?" Hinata asked panic stricken.
"I-I," she stuttered, turning around to look at her mother.
However she was cut off as Hinata screamed and pulled her away from the flame of the stove as her blonde hair caught on fire. Leaning over Hinata grabbed their washbasin full of water and dumped it on her daughter's head, extinguishing the flame. She was about to sigh but realized she couldn't breathe. Rushing around she threw open all of the wood shutters and practically coughed her lungs out. Turning around she walked over to Ai who was sitting on a chair crying, half her hair singed.
"What were you thinking?" Hinata asked disbelievingly as she looked around the room, that was more like a disaster area.
"I wanted to make lunch for Daisuki and Gaara-chan." Ai said as more crocodile tears fell from her azure eyes.
"Why didn't you wake me up!?" Hinata cried.
However Ai's tears only became heavier and she looked down rubbing her eyes. Hinata almost smacked herself and kneeled down in front of Ai.
"I'm sorry!" Ai sobbed. "Do you hate me?"
"Of course I don't." Hinata said cupping her face and wiping away a few tears.
"Can we still make them lunch?" Ai asked.
"Of course." Hinata said sighing. "But first we need to clean up."
"Aw mom." Ai whined.
"Now now, we can't keep our boys waiting." Hinata tsked.
"Our boys?" Ai asked.
Hinata's face turned bright red making Ai giggle.
End Flashback
Gaara looked at the woman and the small girl and noticed the uneven lengths of her hair and the places where it was burned. He rose an eyebrow before looking back at the woman.
"It's okay, as long as you made it." Gaara said.
"We also made these for you." She said holding out four bento boxes.
Gaara examined them; all of the lunches were packed neatly in boxes made of polished wood. Before another word was spoken Daisuki and Ai felt their stomachs rumble and they both shouted at the same time.
"LUNCH!"
The two adults laughed and quickly handed out the lunch boxes.
"Here you go." Hinata said handing a light colored box to Gaara.
He traced his fingers over the design on the cover. It was the Kanji for love and he absently touched his forehead.
"I made it last night." Hinata commented, looking at how he examined the box carefully. "I want you t-to keep it."
He looked up at her and smiled. Today her long dark hair was down and entirely visible, she wore simple blue pants and a white t-shirt. The only thing that was the same as it was yesterday was the dark sunglasses that shielded her eyes.
"Thank you." He said before opening the lid.
The two adults ate slowly as the small children ate as fast as they possibly could. Soon after Daisuki neatly put the lunch box and chopsticks down standing and thanking Hinata before running after Ai who had left her lunch box opened and scattered. Sighing she kneeled down onto the ground and collected Ai's lunch box and chopsticks before placing both of them in a bag, before turning towards Gaara.
"Daisuki is very well mannered," she began trying to start a conversation on some common ground. "I wish Ai was that polite." She said wistfully.
"Daisuki isn't a normal kid." Gaara said stoically. "He doesn't talk much and he has no friends," he paused. "Well he had no friends."
"Ai was all alone, abandoned, left for dead and now she has us." She said looking over to where the two children had decided to sit and play.
Gaara looked at her strangely. Us? Was he suddenly included in her strange family description? The red head suppressed a shudder as Hinata's smiling face came into his mind. He missed her more then anyone would ever know. Hinata looked at the Kazekage worriedly, unaware that she caused his distracted, slightly pained look. She had no idea that in reality she was the wife he had talked so fondly of. Little did Gaara know, that the woman who sat next to him remembered him from her dreams and blushed wondering what it all meant. Gaara glanced at her making Hinata look down shyly, staring at him discreetly. Warmth enveloped her hand and she lifted her head, noticing the light blush on the red head's face as he gently squeezed her hand. Then the adults began to talk.
---Page Break---
"WEEEE!" Ai squealed as she spun on a small merry-go-round.
Daisuki stood off to the side clutching his bear close and watched as the blonde haired girl had the time of her life.
"Daisuki come on!" Ai urged using her shoes to make the small ride stop.
The dark haired boy looked at her shyly. Ai was worried, so she stood up and walked towards him.
"What's wrong Daisuki?" Ai asked. "You're acting like you don't know me."
Daisuki looked at her with guarded eyes, before shuffling his feet in the dirt.
"I thought you weren't coming…" he said softly.
"Oh you silly goose!" Ai said exasperated. "Of course I would come! I wouldn't miss it for the world, see?" she said pulling slightly on her uneven hair. "Even though I burned up my hair and mommy got kinda mad we still made it."
Daisuki looked at her with wide eyes and went to touch the burned ends before recoiling. Ai realized that she would get him no closer to the merry-go-round so she grabbed his hand and ran towards a specifically set out sand box. He seemed reluctant at first but soon became more comfortable with the offer and followed behind her. When they got to the sand she pulled him down on his knees like she was before pressing her hand into the sand. Daisuki watched puzzled, Ai sighed before taking his hand and pressing it into the sand next to hers. Using one finger she drew a heart around both names and underneath in crooked letters wrote, 'best friends.' It took Daisuki only a moment to read what she had written and he smiled before beginning to build a flimsy sand castle that they could knock down when he was finished.
---Page Break---
Deidara had been skirting the outside of Suna for days now. The sun beat viciously down on his back as he made at least his fiftieth time around the village. He knew Tobi and Zetsu were following him and he wanted to know why. Tobi had told him he would give him time, but for some odd reason the blonde thought his time had suddenly run out.
"I'm tired of these games." Madara said lazily. "Go fetch him."
"Yes sir." Zetsu said before disappearing into the ground.
In a few minutes Zetsu sprang from the ground holding a struggling Deidara. Madara grinned devilishly before pulling off his orange mask and staring at the man before him.
"How are you today Deidara?" he asked.
"Rot in hell un!" the blonde spat.
"Now now, temper temper." Madara warned. "You see our plans are moving to slow and I've decided to make them move a bit faster."
"You said you would give me time to think it over yeah!" Deidara growled.
"That I did." Madara said thoughtfully.
"Then let me go!" Deidara snapped.
"Well I don't know, I am a man of my word so I won't press on the subject of which side you will take." Madara answered. "All I'm here to do is persuade you."
Deidara who had been fighting Zetsu's grip the entire time froze and glanced up at the Uchiha male who only smiled at him.
"You know the sharringan isn't just used for fighting." Madara stated. "It can be used for many, MANY productive things."
Deidara felt his stomach drop and his mind clear as he stared into the advanced version of the sharringan.
---Page Break---
"So she pulled me underneath the table to protect me from the oncoming food." Gaara continued as the woman next to him laughed at his story. "When the ruckus cleared there was food everywhere and…"
"Temari-chan had mashed potatoes in her hair!" Hinata cut him off and laughed even harder.
Gaara had tensed up and watched her with wide eyes. Slowly her hysterics turn to laughter which turned to light giggles.
"What's the matter?" she asked softly.
"How did you know that?" Gaara asked.
"Huh?" she asked confused.
"You just said that Temari had mashed potatoes in her hair. How did you know that?" he asked. "Come to think of it how did you know my sisters name was Temari?"
"Uh well I'm sure you brought her up at one point and told me her name." Hinata said face heating up.
She really didn't mean to say anything but it had just spilled out as if she really knew. As if she was really there. She hadn't known where it came from.
"That still doesn't explain how you knew about the mashed potatoes." Gaara said skeptically.
"I guessed?" she asked more then answered.
The red head lifted his hand making Hinata unintentionally flinch before she felt a slight tug at the sunglasses that covered her eyes. She jerked back as if she had been burned, Gaara recoiled for a moment before gripping the sunglasses between his fingers again.
Flash Back
"Hinata-chan!" Deidara called to the bed-ridden girl.
She looked up slightly dazed and very confused. Her blonde husband bounded into the room and she forced a smile.
"What is it Deidara-kun?" she asked softly.
"I've got a surprise for you!" he exclaimed happily.
"Oh well t-thank you." She said smiling genuinely.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark pair of sunglasses before shoving them in her face.
"SURPRISE!" He shouted making Hinata flinch at his volume.
"Sunglasses?" she asked confused.
"Yup un!" he said happily.
"B-but why?" she asked timidly.
"Because there are people out there Hinata-chan yeah, who want to hurt you." Deidara said seriously sitting in front of her. "Once you put them on you can't take them off for anyone, unless you trust them with your life un."
"Why would they want to h-hurt me?" she asked astounded.
"Because of these yeah." He said pointing to her eyes.
"O-oh." She said,
She already knew her eyes were strange and different from everyone else's but for some reason she had a hard time believing that someone wanted to hurt her because of her eyes. Looking up into the blonde mans face she reluctantly took the eyewear from him, after all she had recently had an 'accident' and lost her memory. The least she could do was trust her husband. Standing she walked over to a large mirror and watched her reflection as she slowly slid them on. In a moment she was swept into and embrace. Deidara spun her around a few times before hugging her.
"See I told ya they were good un!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah." Hinata said absent-mindedly her reflection was still visible over Deidara's shoulder.
For some reason the glasses felt wrong, just like her supposed husbands hug.
End Flashback
She almost jerked back again but stopped. She trusted Gaara and was willing to let him see her eyes, so when he once again began to pull the sunglasses off little by little she didn't move. However just as they were about to completely slide off there was a shout from nearby and Gaara recognized it as Ai's loud and obnoxious voice both adults turned abruptly to see what was going on.
---Page break---
"LET GO!" Ai shouted her hands wrapped around Daisuki as the two children pulled, trying to free the stuffed toy from the viscous grip of the playground bully.
"Make me!" The older boy taunted.
A loud rip rang in Daisuki's ear as the bully gave one final tug. He felt the tears burn behind his eyes as his precious bear was thrown carelessly to the ground, stuffing spilled out of the large hole that had been ripped.
"Flimsy piece of trash." The boy grumbled throwing the ripped head of the bear to the ground.
Daisuki couldn't help it anymore and began to cry. Ai rubbed comforting circles on his back before turning to the bully and giving him her best glare.
"You are a big poopy head!" she cried.
"Ugly children should keep their mouth shut." The older child commented.
"I am not a child!" she cried indigently. "I am a woman!"
"Could have fooled me." The boy shrugged. "It could be because of your ugly boy hair." He said. "Aren't girls supposed to have long hair?"
Ai felt tears sting at her eyes to but she tried to hide them. The bully saw the moment of weakness and decided to use it to his advantages. He leaned down and pulled hard on a piece of her remaining long hair.
"How ugly. You're too ugly to be a girl. You're even to ugly to be a boy!" he sneered.
Then the dam broke and tears flowed out of her once clear blue eyes. She felt two warm arms wrap around her and she looked up.
"Mommy!" she gasped.
"It's okay Ai." The older woman reassured.
"And you need to apologize to my son." The Kazekage growled looming over the boy.
The boy trembled as the Kazekage loomed over him.
"S-sorry!" he stuttered out before dashing away.
Daisuki cried silently as he held his headless bear close to his chest. Hinata kneeled next to him and hugged.
"Ai please be a good girl and get me the basket that held our lunch." Hinata commanded her daughter who nodded and ran toward the bench they had sat at previously.
Gaara knelt down and picked up the bear biting back the wave of regret that hit him. Hinata gently took the head from his hands.
"It's okay Daisuki." She said taking the bear from his arms. "Your bear just has a booboo."
"B-but." He began but was silenced as Ai came back with the basket.
Hinata reached in and pulled out a small sewing kit, noticing Gaara's confused face she only smiled.
"Ai rips a lot of her clothes." She said sheepishly.
Gaara nodded inn understanding as he watched her sew the head back on to the bear. By the time Daisuki's tears dried the bear was as good as new.
"There Daisuki, I'm all fixed now." Hinata said making a fake voice for the bear as she wiggled it in front of his face.
Daisuki gasped grabbing it from her hands and then tackled her in a huge hug. She hugged him back before he placed a shy kiss on her cheek then ran to hide behind his father.
"Hey mommy." Ai said, tear stained face bright. "Can we go to dinner with Daisuki and Gaara-chan tomorrow?"
Hinata blushed and turned to look at Gaara. The red head looked surprised that she would even consider such a thing then smiled slightly.
"I'm willing if you are." He said.
There was a pause, Ai giving her puppy dog eyes and Gaara starring at her stoically. Finally Hinata turned to him with a wide smile.
"Okay it's a date."
---Page Break---
"Mommy is going on a date!" Ai teased as she ran ahead.
"I am not!" Hinata protested, her face turning an interesting shade of red.
"But you said so yourself!" Ai pouted.
"I shouldn't have said that!" Hinata said blushing brighter. "I barely know the man and here I am asking him out on a date."
"Hurry mommy!" Ai whined as she began running to their make shift home.
"Ai be careful!" Hinata called after her but froze as the door to their house burst open and the small girl was lifted into strong arms.
"Honey I'm home." The vivacious blonde man stated over his daughters giggles.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to post this but I was procrastinating. I'm having a hard time finishing this because I don't know what's going to happen to my writing career after this story…it makes me kind of sad. Does anyone have any suggestions for me after this?