Chapter 4: Dinner
Yahh I know, terrible chapter name XP but I think it's the only name that gives it justice lol. This chapter is my special tribute to super extra long chapters!!! And is a little more forward on the HinaGaara thing but guess who else finds romance once again?
(Start chapter)
8 days since I arrived at the Hokage tower. 8 whole days since I met Gaara. It seemed like it just flew by. I had gone to 'Gaara's sanctuary' every morning ever since the first day and was seeing how this place really was beautiful not because of its looks but its peace. Tenten was all over this and never stopped trying to get me to admit that I liked Gaara a little more then friends but every time she asked I told her the same thing.
"So are you willing to admit it today?" Tenten said walking into my room in a pair of pale green trunks and a lighter green tank-top. Her hair was up in the same buns as always which always seemed to make me smile. I had remembered the many times when I bugged her to wear her hair down instead of up.
"There is nothing to admit," I said sliding the tan shirt on. Two days ago the maid had come back asking what choice of clothing we like and our sizes. Now the drawers we had were filled with clothing and the closets too. "I'm going to the backyard now."
Tenten just sighed loudly and walked out of the way as I went down the stairs again and outside. "Just remember I will find out no matter what!"
I ignored her and walked over into the grass that was now taller then my ankle. Gaara sat in the same cross-legged stance as before and the wind breezed through his hair. I sat down beside him and closed my eyes lightly finding my own happy place inside.
"Tonight many of our fellow ninja are going to dinner," Gaara said and I opened my eyes to see he was looking at me. "Almost like a reunion. I was wondering if you and Tenten would like to come."
"A reunion?" I said a little surprised. "I haven't seen these people in 7 years." I didn't know what to say to these people. They would probably wonder where I've been for the past 7 years and then what?
"I was hoping that you would go with me though," Gaara said his cheeks lightly pink. Now this was a sight that I never ever thought that I would see. Subaku no Gaara, heartless killer, mass murderer, blushing? Now I was really surprised.
"Oh, um…ok," I said feeling my own cheeks start burning. Now comes the tense moment. "I, um…I will…go tell Tenten."
Gaara nodded and a fat raindrop that came out of no where splashed on his nose. I broke out laughing all the sudden fully breaking the tense moment (for it was definitely a sight to see when Gaara looked surprised at a water droplet on the tip of his nose) as another raindrop fell down on my shoulder. Then it started raining heavily and we got to our feet running towards the door. I was laughing the whole way while Gaara had a smile on his face and we dove into a door totally dripping (rain brings people together or at least that's what I think lol).
"That was unexpected," I laughed standing in the doorway before the stairs wringing out the bottom on my shirt.
"It didn't call for rain," Gaara said scratching the back of his head thinking back. This made me smile for he just looked so confused.
"Sometimes things are unexpected like that," I said with a smile. "Some times things happen that you don't exactly plan for Gaara-kun."
He looked down at me his eyes intense like always and I felt my heart race. Such an intense colour that it could stop anyone if they just gave the time to look past the dark. Look past his hatred to see his love… I could feel my hands tremble and my mind cloud over. What's wrong with me? His damp red hair stuck to his forehead.
"I better be going," he said bowing his head lightly about to leave.
My heart was racing even faster as he began to leave and my mind was telling me to just let him leave but my heart was screaming for me to stop him. To put my arms around him and kiss him. I shook my head in frustration as he walked up the stairs out of site. I let out a sigh of relief but my heart was still racing. Something was definitely wrong with me (I was soooo tempted to put a little kiss in there but then it would take away from some interesting things later so I restrained ).
I calmed down a little more and then headed up the stairs contemplating what had just happened. I couldn't like him. It wasn't possible. If I liked him then I would have kissed him right away or at least that's what I thought I would do. I was a sex kitten for years and new how to make a man want me easily.
"Back already?" Tenten said with a bagel in her right hand. "You're totally soaked!"
"It started raining," I said walking passed her.
"Nothing like a little rain to bring people together eh?" Tenten said with a smile following after me.
"Nothing happened," I said walking forward trying to ignore her. "We just talked then it started to rain and we came inside and he went back to work. Simple as that."
"I don't know," Tenten said walking beside me. "The awkward silences, red cheeks, and hands trembling aren't exactly what I'd call just talking with a friend."
"You were spying on me?" I said turning to her.
"I couldn't resist," Tenten said with a mischievous smile. And anyways, all I saw was when you got inside."
"Thanks," I said rolling my eyes and walking forward more.
"You seem in a bad mood," Tenten said all the sudden. "Did something happen? Do you need someone to talk to?"
"Nothing happened!" I said angrily. "Would you just give it up? I don't like Gaara and he doesn't like me! There is nothing going on alright?"
"Something is making you angry," Tenten said putting her hand on my shoulder comfortingly.
"I think I just wanna be alone," I said walking past her towards my room. "Oh and tonight there's a big reunion with all our old fellow ninja. Gaara has invited us to go." I then slammed my door shut falling down on my knees. I was running out of excuses. I didn't know what to tell Tenten anymore. My heart was saying one thing and my mind a whole different thing. I was balancing on the edge. His eyes were so intense that they could peer into your very soul and every time he looked at me I felt a fear inside that he could read my feelings like a book but why was I being so self-cautious if I didn't like him? It just didn't make any sense. I leaned back feeling the cold mirror against my back.
I heard a tapping on my door and stood up surprised. I opened it and the maid stood outside of my door again.
"I brought your clothing for tonight," the maid said bowing her head lightly.
"Thank you," I said bowing my head lightly back then taking the bundle of clothing from her. She bowed one more time then left down the hall. I went and sat on my bed feeling the material of the bundle of clothing that was also very pale lavender. I unfolded it revealing that it was a simple cocktail dress. Nothing to fancy and yet perfectly semi-casual which made me smile. I undressed from the wet clothing and towel dried my hair quickly then slipped on dry undergarments and then the dress. I looked at myself in the mirror and was surprised at what I saw. I loved things that were simple and this was simple but then again it drew attention to me. It was the perfect colour to bring out my eyes and my pale skin. My dark damp tresses hung down by the straps. It fit around my curves perfectly and ended spread out and nice right to the knee cap. It was not baggy and covered up everything like my Hyuuga sweater but it didn't show absolutely everything like the clothing I normally wore when I was living by the Sex Kitten. My own image was strange to me.
(Break)
That afternoon I tried sorting out my feelings but nothing seemed to work. I was too confused and every time I tried to remember the intensity in his eyes my heart would start to race again. I just didn't understand. Later on I had visited Tenten and we got ready for the dinner. Tenten had tried to get me to speak more of what happened but I did not. How could I when I hardly understood it myself?
"Master Gaara, Master Kankuro, Mistress Temari, and Master Naruto are waiting outside," the maid said when Tenten had opened the door.
"Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto are here?" Tenten said excitedly.
"Master Naruto and Mistress Temari just got back from a conference in the village hidden in the mist that had run late," the maid said. "Master Kankuro came from Suna where he was watching over things for Master Gaara."
"Oh," I said. "That's why we haven't seen them around here."
"Let's go!" Tenten said grabbing my wrist and pulling me out into the hall quickly. "We can't leave your man waiting can we!"
"He's not my man!" I said as I ran after her down the hall. Her dress was also a simple looking cocktail dress but it was white as snow with a pink design spiralling down it. We ran down the stairs and took a different hallway taking us to the front where Gaara and Naruto where shaking hands.
"Hinata?" Naruto said all the sudden looking at me totally shocked. He was dressed in black dress pants and a pale orange cotton t-shirt.
I bowed my head lightly standing abnormally straight. I knew everyone was looking at me now.
"H-hi N-Naruto," I stumbled and felt my cheeks burn lightly. I hadn't stuttered since I left 7 years ago.
"Let's go," Gaara said breaking the silence. I looked up quickly and Gaara was opening up the driver's seat door. He sounded quieter and maybe even a bit more depressed then before. He wore black dress pants as Naruto did but a deep maroon cotton shirt. Tenten grabbed my wrist and started pulling me lightly towards the van and I snapped back out of my trance that I was in.
"Are you ok?" Tenten whispered to me. "You haven't stuttered in a long time. Are you going to be alright tonight?"
"I'll be fine," I said following her into the van. I sat down in the back beside her.
We drove for a good 20 minutes in silence which made it feel like hours until we reached a small restaurant. It looked rich and that's when I saw them. I could already feel the tears falling down my cheeks as we parked in the parking lot. All the ninja that I had grown up with. All the ninja that I had left because I wasn't good enough. The ninja that had been my friends…
"Come on," Tenten said and then she noticed the tears falling down my cheeks. "I knew you weren't going to be alright. Maybe I could ask Gaara to take us home."
"No I'll be fine," I said wiping the tears away. "I haven't seen everyone in so long is all. I'm just a little over emotional."
"I don't want you hurting though," Tenten said helping me out of the car. "And if you are hurting then I'll take you home right away. Just tell me alright?"
I wiped the tears away as we started to walk towards the restaurant. Now it was Tenten's time to stop in realization. Neji and Lee were talking with Shikamaru by the entrance of the restaurant. She also hadn't seen those two since the day she left and hadn't planned on talking to them ever again. Now her plans were near impossible.
"I…" Tenten said tilting her head. "I didn't expect that they would be here."
"Let's get through this night together alright?" I said reassuringly to Tenten. I grabbed her hand and we started walking after Gaara. Everyone looked over at the new arrivals and I knew that everyone was going to start looking at Tenten and me.
"Gaara!" Lee said with a smile hugging Gaara in a big bear hug. "It's been way to long!" Now this was a surprise. Lee hadn't said anything about the lotus or youth and for another thing he was wearing black pants and a deep green cotton T-shirt instead of the old spandex outfit. I was glad to see that his hair was still in its salad bowl cut and he hadn't done anything to his eyebrows.
"And how's the Hyuuga clan, Neji?" Gaara asked the long haired Hyuuga on his right.
"Barriers are coming down," Neji said with a smirk. "Soon it will be the Hyuuga clan as one and not two branches. It's been a lot of hard work and most of the higher branch wants to stick to the original laws but how can they argue with me when I can kick all their asses?" This made Gaara chuckle for it was true. Neji was not an opponent that you wanted to mess with.
"I brought a few people that you might remember from back in our ninja days," Gaara said stepping aside so that we were in full view. I felt my cheeks burn even brighter for I wasn't expecting that at all.
"Hinata? Tenten?" Lee said totally surprised. "What beautiful lotuses you have bloomed into!" And he got us both in a giant bear hug. Maybe he hadn't really changed after all. He pulled away with the big good-guy grin and a thumb's up.
I then watched as it almost happened in the blink of an eye. Neji walked over to Tenten who had her hand held out but he pushed it aside and but his arms around her in an embrace. I could tell she wasn't expecting this in the least.
"Why did you leave?" Neji asked lightly. "Was it because you didn't think you were strong? You were."
Her cheeks went bright red and he stepped back.
"Neji," I said bowing my head lightly to him.
"And you…" Neji said looking down at me.
"I am sorry Neji," I said bowing my head even lower shamefully. "I wasn't strong enough to lead the Hyuuga clan. I'm just not good enough…"
"Thank you," Neji said bowing his own head. "Even though you left you gave me the opportunity to work my way up in the Hyuuga clan. Now even though I am still below your sister, I still have power in the clan and I would have never been able to get that before."
I raised my head surprised. I didn't think he would care so much that I left but it almost made me smile for I always knew that Neji would be great no matter what he was doing but with what he's doing now he's helping out the Hyuuga clan greatly.
"What about my father?" I asked. "What happened to Hiashi?"
"He…" Neji said lifting his head. "He passed away two years ago fighting the same man who killed my father…"
"No," I said totally shocked. "But Hiashi never loses. This can't be right. You're joking."
Neji didn't say anything more and I felt the tears start falling down my cheeks again. He may have told me that I was weak and disowned me but he was my father… He was the one who raised me and even though I was a shy girl he still gave me a chance to show him that I wasn't weak when I went into the Chunin exams but I still lost to my older cousin who stood before me. Hiashi never failed me…I failed him.
"Peace Hinata," Gaara said putting his own arms around me. I felt warmth again and felt almost a sense of relief as well. His hugs seemed to have this healing affect that was better then any medicine. I was becoming calm again and breathed in gently savouring Gaara's intoxicating smell. "Are you ok?"
"I am fine," I said backing away from him wiping the tears away from my eyes.
"Gaara I need to speak with you," Neji said to Gaara with an expressionless face. Gaara seemed a little surprised but nodded and followed the Hyuuga over to an area where no one could hear them.
"That was strange," Tenten said walking over beside me. "Shall we go see the others?"
"Yah," I said breathing in again and following Tenten towards the rest of the group.
"Well isn't this a surprise," Ino said looking at Hinata and Tenten.
"Ino!" Tenten said with a smile. Ino gave Tenten and big hug and then held her out at arms length.
"I'm so glad to see you Tenten!" Ino said with a big smile. You look absolutely beautiful!
"And you're looking pretty good yourself," Tenten said happily. She was right too. Ino had kept her hair the same long length as before but she had grown up a lot and now had a more mature body figure. She wore a black cocktail dress that had the two straps crisscross over each other.
"And you Hinata," Ino said moving over to me. "You have changed so much I could hardly recognize you other then that Hyuuga look of yours. Where have you been hiding all of this time and why didn't you try to keep in contact?"
"I've been here and there," I said with a light smile as Ino hugged me tightly too.
"Nice to see yah," Shikamaru said walking over to them scratching the back of his head. He looked exactly the same as when I left which made me smile. The fuzzy ponytail, the lazy 'I don't want to be here' lean, and the careless smirk. The only thing different about him was that he ditched the mesh shirt and was wearing a deep brown cotton shirt and suit pants. "Been way to long." He shook my hand then Tenten's.
"Well, well, well," Kiba said walking over to us with Akamaru walking behind him obediently although he wasn't the pup that I remembered. He was getting up in years though. Kiba on the other hand still had mischief in his eyes and almost looked like he was about to go play tag in the yard with Akamaru but was restraining with all his might. He wore black suit pants and his old grey hoodie. Now this was definitely strange for he had given up wearing that hoodie a long time ago. "The heiress as returned and she brought along the weapons specialist."
"Funny," Tenten said. "I'd kick your ass right now if I wasn't in this dress."
"I'd like to see you out of that dress too," Kiba said with a wink but this earned him a hit in the head from Ino. "What was that for?"
"That was for being perverted you dumb ass!" Ino said angrily. She then snuggled up to Shikamaru which surprised me even more. I guess a lot could change in 7 years…
"Oh and there's the happy couple," Kiba said with a chuckle as Naruto and Temari walked over to the group hand in hand. "Quite the power couple don't cha think?"
"Hey," Naruto said with a big smile. I never thought in my life that Naruto could look more like the 4th Hokage before. Back when I had first met Naruto I had my hunches that he was the son of the great 4th Hokage for he didn't have a father but I never thought that I might actually be right.
"Hinata, Tenten," Temari said with a big smile. "We didn't get a chance to talk in the car."
"Hi Temari," Tenten said with a big smile.
"Um…hi," I said lightly as they joined the group. Temari was wearing a deep aqua cocktail dress and looked absolutely stunning in it. I felt so trashy and dirty when I saw someone so beautiful as her and it just didn't feel like I could ever fit into this group ever again. I was still having a hard time believing that I was even here right now.
"And where's Gaara?" Naruto asked looking around for his best friend.
"He's talking with Neji bout something," Lee said with a chuckle.
"Bout what exactly?" Choji said joining the group out of nowhere. He looked even more like his father ever day although he wore a yellow cotton shirt and dress pants.
"Gaara must have done something wrong for it was Neji who requested to talk with him," Shikamaru said. "Neji's mood just swung from happy to expressionless in a matter of seconds."
"What did Gaara do when he got here exactly that would have made Neji change his mood?" Naruto asked worriedly looking around even more to find Gaara.
"He hugged Hinata," Shikamaru yawned. "You know how Neji gets about his fellow Hyuuga's. He's playing the overprotective father figure."
I felt my cheeks go red at this comment and knew Tenten was looking at me with a big grin that says 'I knew I was right'.
"But I hugged her?" Lee said. "Why did Neji not talk to me?"
"It wasn't that you hugged her," Shikamaru said. "It's just the way you hugged her. Damn I hate being the genius around here. Try figuring this stuff out for yourselves for once."
"Come on tell us," Choji said.
"When Lee hugged her it was a bear hug between two friends," Shikamaru explained. "But when Gaara hugged her it didn't exactly look like such a friendship hug and Neji being the one that her father had told to protect her no matter what pounced on the opportunity to be the father figure. Do you understand me or do I have to use even smaller words?"
"Could you stop talking about me as if I'm not here then!" I said louder then I thought I was going to. "I could have told you everything that you needed to know! I ran away because I was a failure to the Hyuuga clan! The only one who cared in the least was Tenten because she was going through the same thing as me. My father died and I wasn't even there to say goodbye so Gaara gave me a comforting hug between friends alright!"
"Calm down Hinata," Tenten said putting her hand on my shoulder. I knew that everyone was looking at me now and I bowed my head shamefully.
"I am sorry for the outburst," I said lightly.
"This night keeps getting stranger and stranger!" Kiba laughed. "Maybe if I hug Hinata I'll make Neji explode!"
Everyone chuckled at this comment and I looked around the group but was surprised at the set of blue eyes that were peering down at me curiously. I tilted my head away from Naruto's gaze.
"We're back," Gaara said standing beside me his face dead serious. Neji also had a dead serious expression but almost a tinge of light in his eyes that wasn't there before.
"Long enough," Kiba laughed. "So we going to dinner finally or are we going to stay out here all night?"
"Hello Gaara-kun," I said with a smile but this earned some blank glances at me. I looked down a little embarrassed as their eyes jetted to Gaara to see his reaction but he just smiled at me and nodded.
"Didn't you say you hated suffixes added to your name Gaara?" Naruto asked. "You were very serious on that topic." Gaara just shrugged. I looked at Gaara a little surprised myself. I didn't know he didn't like suffixes added to the end of his name although I did know people were afraid of him so the most thing they would say is a mumbled sama.
"These are the only people coming?" Tenten said looking around the group.
"Well Kakashi is always late and he said he would come for dinner," Naruto said. "And Sasuke should be here soon too." My eyes widened when I heard the name Sasuke.
I felt a hand touch my wrist and I stood up straight from the sudden touch. I looked down and it was Gaara's hand which made me blush lightly. I followed him as everyone started walking into the restaurant. When we got on there were tables everywhere but a long table at the end of the room was set up beautifully and I noticed that we were walking straight towards it.
"Welcome to Tihma," a waitress said excitedly as we filled in. She then ran into the back room excitedly.
"That was strange," I whispered to Gaara who only chuckled at this.
"This happens a lot when to Kages or ever one Kage makes an entrance in any restaurant. Tonight might get a little chaotic so don't expect tonight to be a quiet dinner. The restaurant itself might try to do something like announce to the whole room or broadcast to people that the actual Kages ate at their establishment. This is why we try to pick small restaurants so there won't be much trouble."
"That makes sense," I said. Everyone seated themselves at the table and I took a seat next to Gaara which Tenten eyes me suspiciously. I rolled my eyes at her and she just laughed. We kind of created out own language with gestures so if we needed to communicate from sides of the room then we could. She happened to be at the other side of the table so I couldn't exactly whisper to her to shut up.
"You seem tense tonight," Gaara said worriedly to me. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," I said trying to sound as alright as possible even though I hardly was.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You don't look like you want to be here at all."
"Don't worry so much," I said.
"Your cousin is very protective over you," Gaara said with a smirk. "I hug you as a friend and he's all over it."
"Hmm?" I said surprised.
"He asked what my intentions were with you," Gaara said with a chuckle. "He always cared about you Hinata even if you weren't as strong as him. He would be willing to give up his own life just to protect you and when you left it made him very sad for he thought that you didn't want to have to do with him at all. Funny how things work out that way."
"What did you tell him?" I asked. "He didn't seem that peeved when you both walked back."
"I told him that I cared deeply about you and I would never ever hurt you," he said. "You are my friend and no one hurts my friends ever."
I could feel my heart race again as his intense eyes fell on me. Why did he have such an effect on me? My heart was willing me forward to kiss him but again my mind made me restrain. What the hell was going on inside of me?
"So Hinata and Tenten, where exactly have you been for the last 7 years anyways?" Temari asked all the sudden and I felt the sinking feeling that I had felt before.
"Here and there," Tenten said. "We explored around trying different jobs. Pretty much living the life of a normal girl instead of a ninja."
I just nodded in agreement thankful for Tenten's quick answer. It could have turned out terrible if she didn't but I noticed that Temari was looking at me suspiciously. I didn't really know what to say so I just sat trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.
"I do have to say that you have changed a lot in the past years," Neji said directing it at me. "You really have grown up out of the eye of the Hyuuga fame."
"And you're hott," Kiba said with Akamaru barking in agreement. This earned him a slap from Ino. "I was just saying that's she's got a nice body! It's a complement!"
"A perverted one!" Ino said slapping him again right across his face. "You know Hinata's shy and she doesn't know how to take that kind of stuff from you!"
"I beg to differ," Gaara laughed. I turned to him surprised and hoped that he wouldn't say anything about where I was.
Everyone looked at him curiously.
"I found her a little over a week ago and a group of guys was attacking her," Gaara said all the sudden serious. "These weren't ordinary guys just walking on the street but higher up chunin." I looked at him dumbstruck. Were they really chunin and was that why I couldn't escape from them? "One of them knocked her out after I beat up the rest of them and I didn't want to leave her on the road so I brought her back to my apartment. When she woke up she nearly killed me asking me where she was and what she was doing in my apartment. I didn't think there was a shy bone in her body at the time."
"She really has changed a lot," Neji said surprised. "Almost as much as you have Gaara." Gaara seemed a little taken back by this but he didn't say anything more about it.
Three waiters and three waitresses stood at the table with little writings books ready to take down orders.
"Where is Kakashi and Sasuke?" Choji asked looking around. "Normally there never this late. I wonder what's up." All the sudden one of the empty seats at the table was now taken up by Kakashi who was wearing back suit pants and a pale green cotton shirt. In his right hand was the newest edition of ichi ichi paradise.
"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi said with a smile and everyone sat in awe for he was not wearing his mask at all although his Jonin band was tied around his eye. It was definitely strange indeed seeing Kakashi like this but the affect of the entrance wore off in a matter of minutes.
All the sudden the last person to show came in. Sasuke Uchiha walked in slowly with his expressionless onyx eyes scanning the room. It was hard to believe that just a few years ago he had been under Orochimaru's orders but once he had defeated his older brother Itachi he had surrendered to Naruto and was taken back to Konoha where things seemed to go back to normal. Most people felt strange at first having him back but he soon adapted to the daily Konoha life after that.
"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto said.
"Hey," Sasuke said in the same careless expression as before. Sasuke sat down beside Kakashi at the other side of the table quietly pondering to himself.
"So how's Sakura-chan doing?" Ino asked lightly.
"Not well," Sasuke said even more depressed then before. "I've searched for ever medical chunin but none could help her. I don't know what to do anymore."
"And lady Tsunada?" Kakashi asked. "Is she willing to help yet?"
"I still can't find her…" Sasuke said. "Neither her nor Jiraya have been seen since I surrendered. It's as if they don't even exist anymore."
"And if you don't find her?" Naruto asked lightly.
"Sakura will eventually die because of me…" Sasuke said shaking his head. "Because I was stupid and reckless she is going to die. I sought power because I had everything taken away from me but when I got that power I made people feel like everything was taken away from them and now I'm losing everything I care about because of my power mongering. I guess this is the appropriate time to say that Karma's a bitch."
"Don't blame this on yourself Sasuke," Kakashi said. "Your power did not cause this disease. She would have gotten in no matter what."
"But at least it would have been prolonged long enough for me to find Tsunada," Sasuke said even more depressed. "Now it's going to be too late. I think I might leave early for I want to spend as much time with her as possible."
I watched him just looking down at the table cloth with a sickening feeling in my stomach. He had banged me so hard and I was sure he would no who I was so I tried my hardest not to be noticed. His eyes looked up and then met mine and widened shocked.
"You?" he said surprised looking at me.
I tried to pretend my hardest that he wasn't talking to me.
"You're the hooker?" Sasuke said totally surprised.
Everyone looked at Sasuke surprised and I already felt Gaara's hand on my wrist protectively. This wasn't good at all.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked trying to make myself seem dignified.
"You are a hooker and a prostitute!" Sasuke said looking straight at me so everyone else looked over at me with shock in there eyes. "Why are you here?"
"Back out of this Uchiha!" Gaara snapped angrily back at Sasuke. "You have no right and business in this matter so I would ask you to please stand down! Anyways she has every right to be here for she is apart of this reunion."
"You mean that's Hinata Hyuuga?" Sasuke said surprised.
"I think I'm just going to leave," I said to Gaara lightly. "I don't belong here and you know it."
"And when have you two gotten so chummy?" Sasuke said looking back and forth between Gaara and I. "Does the Kazekage have a few skeletons in his closet? Are you his little sex toy now?"
"Your asking for it Sasuke!" Gaara said standing up angrily pushing his chair back noisily across the floor.
"Please let's just leave!" I pleaded to Gaara. "He's right about me being a prostitute and a hooker and I am ashamed of what I had become. Now I think that it is best that I go back. I never belonged here or anywhere else for that matter."
"I promised that I would help you get back on your feet and that's what I'm going to do," Gaara said and then his eyes turned back to Sasuke viciously. Now everyone in the restaurant was watching the phenomenon. "I'm not going to let him hurt you Hinata!"
"It's too late Gaara!" I said feeling tears fall down my cheeks again. "I'm hurt alright! Not because he called me a hooker and a prostitute but because he was dragging you into this when you have done nothing wrong. I won't let him do that so the best thing I can do for you is to just leave!"
"Hinata," Tenten said running over beside me. "I knew I should have taken you home before."
"Just leave me alone," I said walking out of the restaurant. It wasn't fair. I thought that maybe I would get a second chance but my sins always seem to have a way of catching up with me. I now understand what I am and Gaara cannot help me without hurting himself in the matter. Damn, why did I hate myself so much right now? Karma really was a bitch.
"Hinata wait!" Gaara's voice yelled out from behind me as I was walking down the street.
"I've hurt you enough already," I said. "You are Kazekage and you need to be known as just and fair. How will people treat you thinking that you have a hooker living with you? I've done enough damage."
"Do you think I care what they think?" Gaara said stopping in front of me so I would stop. "I told you everything I do has a meaning behind it and I chose to help you because you needed help!"
"Yah but didn't you also say you'd do what is best for your people?" I asked. "I don't think helping an ex-stripper get back on her feet with show your people compassion."
"Please come back with me," Gaara said his eyes suddenly sad. "I promised I would help you Hinata. I promised and I never go back on a promise."
"So now I'm just a promise?" I said turning my back to him. "What is this some twisted game of yours where you make promises about people like some kind of hobby? There is no way you can convince me to stay."
"I have no right to stop you," Gaara said lightly and I turned back to him surprised by the lightness of his voice. "I just wanted to give you a hand getting back up but apparently I shouldn't have even tried for you just pushed my hand away. God damn it Hinata! Stop letting your pride be the reason you're walking away!"
Gaara had never talked to me like this before. It was like a side that I had never seen before. His face was serious and anger was reflected in his deep aquamarine eyes. His hands were grasped into fists and his muscles were tensed.
"You asked me a question a few days ago," Gaara said. "Why I cared so much and I gave you a simple answer. Because I can. I wanted to help you Hinata because I couldn't care before. I didn't even know the difference between lust and fucking blood lust because I couldn't read my emotions! Maybe I'm just trying to make up for the sins I have committed by caring. I played the devil Hinata and I took life away. I don't want to be that person anymore and I don't want you to be meaningless anymore because you're so much more then that Hinata. You're beautiful and talented and you should be living a life of happiness instead of hatred. I hated being so sad and so depressed. I didn't even have the choice whether I wanted to end my life or not because of the cursed sand. Now that the Shukaku is gone I could have ended it all but I didn't. I didn't cause I was finally given the chance to live. Now are you going to pass up the chance to live Hinata?"
"Damn it I hate you Gaara!" I said wiping newly formed tears away from under my eyes. I felt my knees buckle under me and I started to collapse but before I could hit the pavement I felt a rope of soft sand wrap around my waist slowing me down so Gaara could catch me in his arms. "I say I hate you and you still catch me when I fall." I then blinked my eyes shut and did something I hadn't done in a long time. I fainted.
(End chapter)
I just wanna clear a few things up quickly. I know Sasuke seems like a total prick right now lol but he isn't really that totally bad (so don't kill me Sasuke fangirls lol). It's just right now he's in such turmoil from Sakura dieing and he feels a need for love. For Sakura's loving warmth once again but cant ever have that so he tries to find an alternative love (first chapter lol) but nothing he does ever seems to take the hurt away so he gets very moody and angry (although his whole personality had always been moody and angry). That's why he kind of freaks at Hinata and wonders why the hell she was there. Wouldn't you be curious if the stripper you just banged was eating dinner in a fancy little restaurant with your best friends? Lol (Also he has a few issues with our favourite Kazekage ). Also before I forget, what do you think of Gaara's mood swing? I thought that I should add a bit of his old anger mixed with good intentions . It seemed to fit the moment.
Other then that I hope you enjoyed my super extra long chapter (that really wasn't actual that super long but I wanted to make it like a double feature of Naruto so I typed double the pages on Microsoft word) and the next chapter should be up in the next few days with success. Also you will find out that when I type the first chapter of a story I have the next chapter up maybe a few days after a week but the rest are up in no longer then a week from eachother .
I no really long writers thingy at the bottom
SandDemon44 out!