A/N: I am so excited! 11 reviews and only two real chapters? Wow!! Thank you so much to my faithful reviewers and favers. You fill my soul with warm squishies 

Animefreak62294: Thanks for pointing that out! I'm glad you like it, and you made a great point: chan is traditionally used for girls, and kun for boys, but I did some searching on Wikipedia for Japanese honorifics, and I read that chan can be used for males if the person has known them since childhood, which Hinata has in this story. Or, one could say that she was so flustered she addressed him incorrectly. ;)

Deadlydoodlebug: Thanks for all the love:D I hope that this chapter is a bit more substantial, and I'm so happy you are enjoying it!

Suzume1414:  I hope so. It really has been pretty Sasuke and Hinata-centric so far, and this is a GaaHina after all. Our favorite psychopath should show up soon!

PaintedAngelWings: Thank you so much! I'm a pretty new Narutard, so I'm trying to write them well, and Naruto by far is the most fun to write. XD That was my favorite part as well.

Mysterygal02: Thanks for all the reviews! Glad you like it!

AuroraStarPhoenix: Your advice was very helpful, and I'm happy that you look forward to more! I've decided on a mixture between the Disney version and several more classical variations.

Starchip13:  Here's another update!

"Hinata!" Hanabi shook her head in aggravation. "I'll be fine, would you stop worrying?!"

Hinata winced, trying to stop twiddling her fingers; she knew Hanabi hated her nervous habits. "I-I'm sorry, Hana-chan," she murmured, willing her hands to be still.

Hanabi considered her with a strange look. "Hinata," she said gently, squeezing her older sister's hand. "You shouldn't be scared of me. I care about you; I'm not going to hurt you. Don't be so timid all the time!"

"I'll try, Hana-ch--"

"Hanabi." The girl pulled Hinata into a crushing hug, and then returned to her packing.

Hinata watched her silently, embarrassed. She had always been ill at ease around their stern, perfectionist father, and her relationship with Hanabi was difficult to explain. There was no doubt in her mind that she adored her sister: Hanabi was strong, but not harsh, kind, yet firm, and her sense of humor had made many rainy days more enjoyable. At times, Hinata envied Hanabi's confidence, but in truth, she knew that she appreciated her sister's care of her. After Hiashi's death, Hanabi had slipped comfortably into the role of caretaker, watching out for her in ways that their father had never thought of doing. Hinata had come to love the time they shared over dinner each night after Hanabi returned from running errands for Godaime-sama. It had been surprising at first to know that someone actually wanted to know how her day was, after her father's cold distance and dismissal.

And yet, Hinata was nervous. After receiving Hanabi's warm, unconditional acceptance, she was desperate not to lose it again, desperate to prove that she was worthy of such a sister, and of such a sister's love. How she wished that there was something she could do to deserve it!

There was a knock at the door, and before Hanabi could move, Hinata whirled and ran to answer. She's too busy to bother with visitors. She tentatively peeked out the eyehole, and then exhaled in relief. "It's only Kiba-kun," she called back to her sister, opening the door for her friend. Inuzuka Kiba stepped inside, neglecting yet again to wipe his muddy feet before ushering himself to the den. Hinata made a mental note of the tracks, and hurried to his side, silently praying he wouldn't break something this time.

"Hanabi! I'm here, whenever you're ready." Kiba's booming voice filled the house, causing his companion to jump slightly. "Eh, Hinata? You okay? You seem tense." She shrugged, and he smiled knowingly. "Nervous about her first mission." It wasn't a question; Kiba knew her well enough to no longer have to make guesses about what she was thinking.

"I believe that Hanabi will be c-capable of completing her assignment with n-no difficulty."

Kiba guffawed. "Liar! You're scared stiff."

"Kiba-kun!" Hinata's mortification was evident, and Kiba knew he should take a hint and leave her alone.

But Kiba rarely took hints.

"With good cause," he said gravely, leaning closer with a conspiratorial air. "I mean, the forest she'll travel through being haunted and all."

Hinata's pale eyes widened, and her expression was enough to goad him on. "You didn't know?" Kiba clapped a hand to his face in surprise. "Well, never mind then. It's probably just old stories, anyhow." He didn't need to look at her to know that she had swallowed the bait, hook and all.

"W-what stories, Kiba?" Her voice was openly shaky now, and he could almost smell her growing apprehension.

"Yah, it's nothing." He paused for dramatic effect, drawing it out as long as he dared. "You don't believe in ghosts, do you, Hina?"

She inhaled sharply, and grabbed at his arm. "G-ghosts?"

"I shouldn't tell you this, but legend has it that there is a horrible monster dwelling in a hidden castle somewhere deep within the forest. He is not truly a man, nor is he a beast, but a demon with legions of the dead at his command. Some say that--"

"Kiba!" Both started at Hanabi's shout, pulled from the magic of the story in an instant. "What nonsense are you telling her now?" To any onlookers, the sight of such a petite, frail-looking girl scolding the towering, brawny young man would have appeared utterly ridiculous, but although Kiba would have never admitted it, Hanabi could be absolutely terrifying when angered.

"I wasn't doing anything, Hana-chan!" he protested, taking an unconscious step backwards. She shot a bloodcurdling look in his direction as she went to Hinata, whose petrified expression had not changed since her sister had entered the room.

"Hina," Hanabi said, trying to sound soothing. "Kiba's just an idiot; he made it up to scare you." Don't be so timid all the time! At the thought of Hanabi's earlier words, Hinata straightened and put on a brave face.

"I'm f-fine," she murmured, trying to swallow the growing lump in her throat. Kiba was making it up to scare me.

For the remainder of the afternoon, Kiba and Hanabi made preparations for departure. Even though Hanabi was constantly reassuring her that she would only be gone a week, two at the most, Hinata noted that she was bringing enough to stay a month, stuffing as much as she could into a small backpack. At a cue from Hanabi, Kiba took Hinata aside and explained for the umpteenth time exactly what would occur: Tsunade-sama was sending Hanabi to the Land of Wind, where she was to exchange messages with the Kazekage and return after a brief stay in Sunagakure. Kiba was to take her as the border, and then he would turn back and she would continue through the forest that separated the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. At his mention of the forest, Kiba chuckled nervously and glanced in Hanabi's direction. Thankfully, she was otherwise occupied.

-

As the two trudged off into the sunset, Hinata continued to wave, even after their silhouettes were beyond her sight. She forced herself not to used Byakugan to follow their progress a little further, and instead she started back homeward.

Only a week, she reminded herself. Only a week or two. The words followed her for the next few days, which she spent straightening the house before Hanabi's return, reading her precious book and avoiding Sasuke as best as she could: The young man followed her around every time she went on an errand or visited Kurenai, although she couldn't imagine why. His new interest in her was so hard to understand, since all his life he had completely ignored her. And when she got wind of the whispers circulating town, Hinata was dumbstruck. Her? The villagers were crazy! Not with beautiful girls flinging themselves at them constantly, not with all the unmarried women (and some of the married ones) pining after his passionate dark eyes, admirable physique and sleek--

She dismissed all thoughts of him, concentrating instead of her beloved sister's homecoming. Hinata made up her mind to thank Hanabi fully for all her kindness, to let her know how important she really was as soon as she returned. She watched out the window each day, even when she knew that it was far too soon, imagining the girl's smiling face brightening up the empty house again. Kiba came home one night, and reported that everything had gone smoothly, and Hanabi believed that she might be home early.

Only a week, maybe two.

Which was what made it all the more frightening when after a month, Hyuuga Hanabi was nowhere to be found.

A/N: Oh noes, Hanabi! I need to stop ruining these characters, but I really did not want to make her a second Hinata, and since she is barely in the show, I got to create a personality for her that fit how I wanted the story to go. I realize that the distance Hanabi is supposed to have covered in only a few days to reach Suna might have taken longer, but as I don't know how long it really would take, I estimated, failing miserably, I am sure. I made up the forest that separates Suna and Konoha for my own purposes, so no "theirz noe forrest their, reetard," please. (Although if there is a forest, you can say, "Their iz a forrest their, retard.) ;)

Also, since the Kazekage can't be the Fourth, as Tsunade is already Hokage, and Gaara can't be Kazekage, I guess it will just be some random nameless person. (I would use Yashamaru, but he makes a great Mrs. Potts lol)